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jfortun

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  1. I for one quite enjoyed Magnolia. I found the parallel and converging stories of fathers and their children to be quite compelling. It's use of music and a lyrical cinematography made the movie feel more like opera and in that context I was willing to accept the melodrama. The movie was unapologetically sincere and it delivered its grand flourishes without a trace of irony or a wink at the audience. I think that is a rare thing in modern filmmaking. The ending was clearly foreshadowed. All of the characters were moving through their lives focused only on their own misery and pain when reality comes along and smacks them upside the head. I don’t believe this was intended to be deus ex machina; I believe it was just one of those bizarre moments that can help you regain focus on the real world and shake you from a complacent fantasy. That the reality was delivered in the form of a frog rain is just funny (ok there might be a little bit of irony here). (BTW, frog rains have actually happened)
  2. I would view this as a disadvantage. There is a lot pleasure to be had in the interaction between man and machine. The joy of driving a well made car (or perhaps Skycar!) is something no form of mass transportation will ever replace, however efficient or safe.
  3. It is the impressive levels of integration that drew me to Wagner, despite his truly apalling philosophy and outlook on life.
  4. Check out these lyrics from the Ben Fold's Five song "Philosophy" (especially the last verse): Won't you look up at the skyline At the mortar, block, and glass And check out the reflections in my eyes See they always used to be there Even when this was all was grass And I sang and danced about a high-rise And you were laughing at my helmet hat Laughing at my torch Go ahead you laugh all you want I got my philosophy (It keeps my feet on the ground) And I trust it like the ground That's why my philosophy Keeps me walking when I'm falling down I see that there is evil And I know that there is good And the in-betweens I never understood Would you look at me I'm crazy But I get the job done I'm crazy but I get the job done So go ahead and laugh all you want I got my philosophy (It keeps my feet on the ground) And I trust it like the ground That's why my philosophy Keeps me walking when I'm falling down I pushed you cause I loved you guys I didn't realize That you weren't having fun And I dragged you up the stairs And I told you to fly You were flapping your arms Then you started to cry, you were too high Now you take this all for granted You take the mortar, block, and glass And you forget the speech that moved the stone But it's really not that you can't see The forest from the trees You just never been out in the woods alone I've always enjoyed BFF and these lyrics have always stuck with me. I've never done any research as to whether or not the band really believed these sentiments but even so, it a rare song that hits me so close to home. Even just reading the words brings a tear to my eye.
  5. The Edge is such an unusual Hollywood film. I really love it.
  6. It is the energy and enthusiasim of cinematic and stylistic excess. The violence is obviously satirical, beautifully shot and choreographed. In a different context I could call such violence depraved. Compare Olive Stone's film Natural Born Killers to Kill Bill for an example of the how violence on film can portray a sense of life. Both have about the same level of violence, but I would only call one of them depraved. Roger Ebert has a great line about what makes a great film: It is not what a film is about, but how it is about it. (as a side note: Tarantino had some part in the early development of NBK the film is definately the vision of Oliver Stone)
  7. Contrary to the (often cartoonish) violence and the depraved situations in Tatarantino's films, they seem to have a joyous sense of life. Whether this is because of the technical mastery or the implied wink in every moment I am not sure but I am left feeling giddy after a Tarantino film. I can only conclude it is because of the joyous energy that comes off the screen. As for Kill Bill 1 & 2, I quite enjoyed both and for different reasons and I can't wait to seem them back to back. The Bourne Supremecy was a lot of fun, if only for the supreme competence of its protagonist. The camera work can be forgiven becuase of the amazing car chase through Berlin (which my wife described as a "fist fight with cars").
  8. I think it is easy to make too much of this and confuse the pursuit of a romantic relationship with a fantasy who's sole purpose is to aid in physical release. Unless masturbation and porn become a subsitute for a romantic relationship (or the pursuit thereof) I don't see what the problem is. One can admire a thing for just some of is aspects and and still be moral as long one does not drop the context in which you are doing the admiring.
  9. And don't underestimate the power of that sight! It is the only justification I need for having my own child rather than adopting. Don't forgot too that a child born out of a romantic relationship stands as a symbol of that relationship. I don't mean to reduce a child to a trophy, but seeing my wife when I look into the eyes of my child is highly pleasurable.
  10. I debated with myself as to whether or not I should resurrect this thread, but upon reading this particular position I thought I needed to respond. I do not see how homosexuality equates to a man rejecting his physical nature. This has been asserted but not supported. I don’t understand what the “compatibility” worth seeking is. If we are merely talking about matching body parts than the male body is just as capable of pleasing a man as a female body, especially given that a gay man does not have any desire to interact with that female body. Not seeking a romantic relationship with another man would be rejecting a nature of a different sort. Perhaps I am missing some key portion of the argument. Since I have not spoken up on this before I should state my general view on this topic: Whether it occurs by choice or by genetics I do not see how homosexuality can be declared immoral. Promiscuity and self-destructive behavior is certainly immoral- but homosexuality hardly has a corner on that market.
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