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Hermano at the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2011 (review)

Anabelle — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:00:59 +0000

The story of Hermano has been told again and again, yet retains its poignancy and freshness with the right actors and masterful direction. A touching tale of family, loyalty, brotherhood, justice, revenge, redemption and sacrifice describes what I saw on Sunday afternoon at the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival.

Daniel is an exceptional footballer, a phenomenal striker. Julio is the team’s captain, a born leader. As brothers they grew up playing football together in a Caracas slum called “La Ceniza.” While Daniel dreams of playing professional football, Julio supports the family with “dirty” money; he has little time to dream. The opportunity of their lives arrives when a football scout invites them to tryout with the city’s best team: the Caracas Football Club. But tragedy looms nearby. They must choose, on a dusty football pitch, what is most important: family unity, revenge or the chance of a lifetime. On this pitch, life is on the line.

As I said, the story of Hermano is one you’ll be familiar with and that you’ll recognize in the first half hour. But knowing the plot takes nothing away from the quality of the two main actors, the beautiful “shoulder camera” videography and the bittersweet feeling of the finale. It sometimes felt like a more tragic South American version of Slumdog Millionaire, but I don’t hold that against it.

Hermano is a hopeful “from rags to riches” movie but it doesn’t forget the reality of living in slums controlled by drug lords. Too often, the price to pay to leave the life is unbearably high, and the movie does its best to underline that. There is no easy way out for Julio and Daniel, even through football.

Hermano will be showing again on Friday, September 9th at SFU Woodward at 7PM. You can get more information on the VLAFF website.

Hummingbird604.com is a proud media sponsor for the 2011 edition of the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. Follow all our coverage here on the VLAF2011 tag or on the Hummingbird604.com Facebook page. Anabelle attended on Hummingbird604.com’s media pass.

Operacion Diablo at the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (review)

Anabelle — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:49:53 +0000

It’s only when I don’t need it (i.e. having a media pass) that I win things, like last night’s raffle at the presentation of Operacion Diablo.

I should watch more documentaries. They often present an issue or an event that no one ever heard about, thus bringing awareness to it. And obviously, I’d never heard of Peru farmers’ efforts to keep a big mining company away from their mountain. But here’s a better synopsis of the story:

Father Marco Arana is being followed. A private investigative firm is photographing and videotaping his every move. This humble priest has spent two decades defending Peruvian mountain farmers from a US -owned gold mine, earning him the nickname “El Diablo.” When Father Marco’s allies are tortured and assassinated, he and his supporters take action and develop a counterespionage plan. They obtain graphic footage, photos and reports taken by the spies worthy of a Hollywood spy flick. This real-life thriller exposes the new wave of corporate terrorism faced by Latin America’s human rights defenders.

The movie is short (1 hour) but packs a lot of content in it. After setting the background story, the movie moves on to the heart of the matter: how Newmont, an American mining company, hired private “security” companies (more like mercenaries and ex-intelligence officers) to intimidate, capture, torture and even murder those people involved in stopping the company from exploiting a nearby mountain for gold.

What’s most shocking about Operacion Diablo is that it’s not a movie. It’s real life, real people, real women being abused and raped by these para-military groups protecting Newmont’s billions. The movie exposes how money can make people do these horrible things to each other, how the lure of gold and more billions can ever justify such a flagrant disrespect of basic human rights. Because it’s not a war against terrorism fought in Peru: it’s corporate terrorism used against the poorest farmers in rural Peru.

Operacion Diablo is part of the Al Jazeera Documentary Competition and is definitely worth watching. The next (and last) showing is Monday September 5th at 1PM at the Pacific Cinémathèque on Howe Street, downtown Vancouver. More information on the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2011 website.

Hummingbird604.com is a proud media sponsor for the 2011 edition of the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. Follow all our coverage here on the VLAF2011 tag or on the Hummingbird604.com Facebook page. Anabelle attended on Hummingbird604.com’s media pass.

August (Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011) – movie review

Raul — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:31:12 +0000

Oh dear God. Who doesn’t know the trouble boy? The handsome, charming heartbreaker who comes to your house knocking after 3 years of not talking to you, after breaking your heart, after abandoning you and leaving you for an adventure? We all do, let’s admit it. I have known one many Troys (the name of the main character in August) who have wanted to come back to my life after being the heartbreakers. Coincidentally the boyfriend of Heartbroken Boy (Jonathan) is also named Raul. Oh, the ironies.

August (showcased tonight at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011) presents you with a strange cinematic approach (back-and-forth-without-really-knowing-much-about-where-the-heck-this-movie-started-or-finished) to telling stories of deception, “sex with the ex”, lies, threeway relationships where the ex always interferes in the idyllic life of the “supposed-to-have-grown-up” heartbroken boy and his Latino charming, loyal and a-tad-too-understanding boyfriend.

While the end will catch you COMPLETELY by surprise, the complex and twisted storyline of inextricably intertwined lives of Troy, Raul and Jonathan is very nicely told in August. My only complaint is that much of the movie’s development happens at Jonathan’s 30th birthday party and the setup to get to that point was WAY TOO LONG. But the movie itself is totally worth watching. And I’d love to hear from you as to what you think was the meaning of the ending of the movie. Totally open to interpretation.

You should also read the synopsis from the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011:

Is there anything more tempting and troublesome than “ex sex”? Israeli-American writer/director Eldar Rapaport unflinchingly probes this question in his new romantic drama. Jonathan and Raul are on the brink of moving in together when Jonathan’s ex-boyfriend, Troy, returns to LA. Their well-meaning attempt to all become friends quickly turns into a triangle of desire, jealousy and old memories. While this might sound like the making of a melodrama, Rapaport’s thoughtful direction reveals the precarious quandary of discerning lust from love.

August also offers lots of eye candy. For cinephiles who appreciate beautifully framed shots, Rapaport puts his European filmmaking sensibility to good use. And for those who appreciate beautiful men, the three lead characters—Troy, Jonathan and Raul—will not disappoint. To top off this visual delight, the film is set in LA’s Venice Beach during a heat wave (hello, glistening abs!).

Eldar Rapaport / USA / 2011 / EN / Total time: 100 min

Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011 – film review: Judas Kiss

Raul — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:00:52 +0000

I did not expect to like Judas Kiss as much as I did, quite honestly. I knew that it was written by my Twitter friend Carlos Pedraza, that it had at least 2 of my favorite actors (Charlie David and Shawn Lockhart aka Brent Corrigan, in a former life). The premise, however, was kind of strange. And it was at points hard to follow the logic of the film. But despite the intricate elements and overall eye and brain candy, I think Judas Kiss succeeds at doing what Pedraza and JT Tepnapa (the director) wanted it to do.

I attended the Canadian premiere party at the Edgewater Casino and had a chance to talk to several members of the cast. My friend Patrick Levesque (Homorazzi) hosted the Q&A as Homorazzi was a presenting sponsor for the night. It was great to meet Carlos Pedraza in the flesh after so many years of being only Twitter friends.

You can still catch Judas Kiss once more, on Thursday August 18th at 9:30pm. A quick summary (focused on Canadian star Charlie David) is shown below. You should judge for yourself this cinematic analysis of past mistakes and lives turned upside down. I think the main question that Judas Kiss tries to answer is what if I hadn’t made the mistakes I made before and how could I solve them?.

Charlie David takes on the lead role of Zachary Wells, a failed filmmaker who returns to his alma mater to judge the annual student short film contest. During his first night on campus, an anonymous hook up with a student triggers an emotional, and rather metaphysical, journey into the past. Charlie David is aptly teamed up with 20-year-old Vancouverite Richard Harmon and gay porn star-turned-actor Brent Corrigan (aka Fox Ryder).

Directed by JT Tepnapa / USA / 2011 / EN / Total time: 107 min

Disclosure: I attended Judas Kiss with my Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011 media pass. I am neither obligated nor expected to write a review, but wanted to do so anyway. At any time, I retain editorial control of what is published on my site.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Guest movie review by @frodofied)

Raul — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 01:05:41 +0000

This guest movie review of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part Two is contributed by Robert Sandy for Hummingbird604.com. Robert Sandy, 41, is a writer and researcher from Chicago. You can follow his tweets at @frodofied.

The task of bringing a beloved, and widely known work of literature to the film screen is fraught, and, in a great many ways the producers of the Harry Potter saga had as much to fear as did Peter Jackson with his triumphant translation of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and in some ways, more. Where Jackson’s wider audience had only the hazy memories of an epic read long before, if it had ever been read in its totality at all, the producers of Potter faced, almost literally, the whole world as critics. Not only were the Potter books works of contemporary fiction, they were books engrained into the popular imaginations of an entire generation (one that spanned the various age groups) of devoted readers. Harry Potter was legend both in story, and in fact, almost at his conception and to give him cinematic life must have proved daunting. But if the litmus test for success rests ultimately in emotional resonance than it can be argued quite forcibly that few film franchises in history are equal to the Potter saga.

It is nearly impossible given all of these facts to discuss, or even review, this film on its independent merits, but it is also just as impossible to discuss the series as a unified whole. To the franchise’s detriment the producers decided fairly early on to change directors frequently, and as the mood seemed to suit them, and so the series lacks a narrative and an aesthetic cohesiveness requisite to such a goal, and in this way is less successful than The Lord of the Rings or even the Star Wars films. Yet, unlike those series, the anchor for these films, and most certainly this final installment, has never been the director, the screen-writers, or even the special effects departments, but existed wholly in the too little discussed casting department. No film or film series in recent memory can boast such a stellar and accomplished cast, but all the Maggie Smiths, Robbie Coltranes, Imelda Stauntons and Julie Walters aside it is that trio of actors who have grown up in front of our eyes who have made these films worthy of visit and revisit for the last decade and more. Indeed, it is impossible to imagine our beloved Ron, Hermione or Harry inhabited by any other actor than the three who became them in the end.

Emma Watson, at first halting and awkward, has grown into the luminous emotional center of the films, mirroring the development of her brilliantly realized interpretation of Rowling’s principal Mudblood, Hermione Grainger. Rupert Grint’s stalwart take on the often over-looked member of the Weasley clan gained more muscle with every effort, and, as a result, his finest moments are found in the final installments of the films, his heartbreaking reaction to the death of his brother Fred in the final shows him to be perfectly on par with his young colleagues. And then, of course, there is Harry himself. It is lucky indeed that Daniel Radcliffe was asked to assume the role of the most famous boy in the world at such a tender age, because it allowed him a measure of freedom that might not have been there otherwise. Radcliffe has since proven himself to be a serious and outstanding young actor with a range that reaches far beyond this franchise, and it could be argued that the role of Harry Potter has not allowed him to fully shine. His startling physical resemblance to Rowling’s written character allowed us to forgive him for missing some of the deep emotional notes required of him in the first two films, and after, his talents developing out of pace with his co-stars, Radcliffe found himself replaying the same emotional themes over and over with each outing. It is to Radcliffe’s credit, however, that by the time Harry confronts You-Know-Who in the final scenes of the final film that one knows instinctively, without aid of books or script, that he will kick the ever-loving ass of his dastardly opponent. Indeed, as his companions and the whole of the magical world have grown to trust and believe in Harry Potter, so too have we, rendering Fiennes’ meaty and multi-dimensional take on Voldemort nothing more than a cinematic asterisk.

David Yates, who directed the final four Potter installments, will be remembered forever as the man who tried, and usually succeeded, in forcing the franchise to grow up, and though many have criticized his shadowy color palette and his thematic structure as overly dark, it was to the benefit of both individual film and franchise alike that he did so. Yates chooses to forego traditional narrative structure at all with the final film, assuming anyone who is paying $12 to see this film has done so prior, and so we open with the end of the last film and find Voldemort astride Dumbledore’s grave with Elder Wand in hand and Harry kneeling at a newly erected gravestone that reads simply: Here lies Dobby, A Free Elf. Yates utilizes the death markers effectively, warning us early on of the death and gravity to follow, but it is a promise that seem forgotten soon after. Yates loses artistic sight thereafter, allowing what could have easily been his finest film to be hi-jacked by action and special effects.

Throughout this too short finale one is left grasping for emotional heft, and is too often left with only magical and pyrotechnic bravado. It is in the quieter moments, and often those led by Watson, that the film finds its true heart, but these moments are too few and given too little focus. When Harry tells Hermione that he understands his connection to Voldemort at last, and that he believes that she too has always known the answer to the riddle, the quiet devastation writ large across the face of Watson is proud-making indeed. And in the final, quiet shot of the film proper, as our three heroes stand hand in hand as the camera pulls up and away from the field of victory we see each actor facing the apex of their lives thus far in such different ways, Radcliffe with his stony, determined stare, Watson with her no-doubt real tears and resplendent cocked head and Grint with his eyes closed almost as if he is meditating on the wonder that this project must have represented to his, and all their lives.

None of this is meant to suggest that the final film is lacking in satisfying moments, because they are here in abundance: here is Neville Longbottom bravely (as he is wont to do) confronting the Dark Lord when all others are silent, and Julie Walters’ finally dispatching with the horrid Bellatrix LeStrange to protect her daughter Jennie, and of course the cheer-inducing kiss that we have waited years to witness between Ron and Hermione. But the real and extended sense of loss that permeates the final novel is mostly missing here. The epilogue, again too short, shows, as the final of the book does, our heroes all grown up and with their own children, and allows Radcliffe his most moving and subtle performance opportunity of the last few films, and he both meets and exceeds expectations. His dignified defense and resuscitation of the personal character of Severus Snape, given all that he, and we, now know of the man, brought lumps to the throat and tears to the eyes. But even the beauty here, and that of the very final shot of our adult heroes, is lacking the fully satisfying sense of being the emotional capstone of a perilous and profound journey.

I had hoped, given the magnificence of many of the prior films, that The Deathly Hallows Part Two would truly be the piece de la resistance of the franchise, but it is not, and in its way it has more in common with “The Two Towers” than it does “The Return of the King.”

**** out of five

You can find local showtimes in Vancouver for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 by clicking on this link.

You can check the movie trailer here:

X-Men: First Class (movie review)

Raul — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:39 +0000

X-Men: First Class has been out for a few weeks, but I hadn’t had really the chance to go see it (even though I knew what it would be about – the beginning of the rivalry between Professor X, Charles Xavier and Magneto, Erik Lensherr). Xavier, the powerful telepath is shown in his youth as a cocky, somewhat reckless young academic (perfectly portrayed by James McAvoy, who totally wins me over with his Charles Xavier) who is impetuous, youthful and has a keen interest in demonstrating to the world that his and his peers’ mutation can help transform the world. Lensherr, sublimely chanelled by Michael Fassbender, is the emotionally-and-physically scarred magnetic-superpowered German young man who is seeking revenge against Sebastian Shaw (a creepy Kevin Bacon who owns this role like no one else) for killing his mother. Xavier and Lensherr strike an unlikely alliance after a botched attempt to beat Shaw by both Xavier (and his human troops) and Lensherr (vulnerable against the powerful telepath Emma Frost).

I really appreciated how well crafted is X-Men: First Class. Casting was spectacularly well done, in particular I’m thrilled with the way in which January Jones portrays Emma Frost (not at all wimpy, but an extremely powerful telepath with the ability to turn into diamond). Frost gives Charles Xavier a run for his telepathic money in their first encounter, although afterwards Xavier and Lensherr are able to subdue her by combining their powers.

X-Men: First Class continues the trend of building a storyline that speaks to themes of bigotry, hatred and social acceptance. It was extremely powerful to see the on-screen chemistry of McAvoy and Fassbender as once-friends-turned-enemies-by-cruel-fate-and-personality-differences. All the storylines that you would want explored (the super-smart-turned-blue-Beast, Dr. Hank McCoy portrayed by sweet and lovely Nicholas Hoult, blue-skinned shape-shifter Mystique aka Raven, Jennifer Lawrence in an amazing demonstration of versatility in acting, Banshee, Angel, and Havok) are seen from the viewpoint of high-powered-and-immature youngsters who have to grow up to become an army that is being called upon to save the world.

Rose Byrne annoys the hell out of me as Dr. Moira McTaggart, Xavier’s love interest (and ultimately, the one who leaves him crippled). It’s really her and her stupidity (who in the world has the bright idea of firing bullets against a magnetic-powered mutant, seriously – are you stupid or what, woman?) and not Magneto who cripples Xavier, and the way in which the screenwriter transformed the storyline of the demise of Lensherr and Xavier’s friendship really annoyed me. Sorry Charles, I totally agree with Erik – it was Moira McTaggart who left you crippled in a futile attempt to subdue Magneto. I’m sorry for any Byrne fans, but I really, really, really hated her and her storyline in X-Men: First Class.

Numerous cameos complete a fantastically well done movie, including Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and an older-looking Mystique (Rebecca Romjin). X-Men: First Class provides the layperson with an extremely profound examination of the mythology of the X-Men and sets the foundation for a series of prequel movies. I was really sad at the parting of ways of Mystique and Professor X, but it’s kind of neat to see how much care and love they had for each other in the beginning, as best friends.

McAvoy was an actor I almost never really felt compelled to watch, and he’s won me over with his exquisite portrayal of Dr. Charles Xavier. He shares some really neat scenes with Fassbender, and their portrayal of a great friendship that turns sour is extremely well done. There’s a scene where both Fassbender and McAvoy shed tears and I did the same too. Beautiful performances.

I would very strongly recommend that you check out X-Men: First Class. I can’t wait for the next installment. Check out the international trailer above and a few of the featurettes below, including the lovely Havok.

X-Men: First Class is now in theatres in Vancouver and most of the Lower Mainland. For showtimes in Vancouver check this link.

Disclosure: JT paid for both of our tickets to the movies. I am neither obligated nor expected to blog about the movie, I’m just sharing my thoughts as this was an excellent movie and I wanted to write about it.

Green Lantern (movie review)

Raul — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 06:13:48 +0000

“In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight Let those who worship evil’s might, Beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!”

If you’re a superhero geek, like me, you’ll have been salivating at the prospect of a Green Lantern movie. Several failed attempts before (and a few really cheesy attempts, including a Justice Society of America film that was pretty terrible, but did include Green Lantern), we finally get to see one of the most mind-numbing, fun and exciting movies of the past decade. Yeah, you may think I’m exaggerating because I’m a Ryan Reynolds fan (full disclosure: I’m TOTALLY a Ryan Reynolds fan, not only because he’s from Vancouver, where I live, but also because his portrait of thrill-seeking, irresponsible and often laughed-at aircraft pilot Hal Jordan.

Reynolds’ Hal Jordan shows us a real human-who-by-accident-has-turned-hero. Hal Jordan doesn’t deal with his father’s untimely death the same way Bruce Wayne aka Batman does (e.g. becoming a masked vigilante). Much to the contrary, in a rather daring way, Jordan seeks to emulate his Dad, but fears he’ll always live in the shadow of his father, also an aircraft pilot. Ryan Reynolds offers us a Hal Jordan that becomes Green Lantern not because he’s fearless, but because he fights and overcomes his fear.

Blake Lively as later-to-become Green Lantern’s Sapphire Star, is flawless in her portrayal of Carol Ferris. Ferris, heiress to the Ferris Aircraft empire, is a consummate pilot and also the romantic interest of Hal Jordan. She sees in Jordan something others don’t seem to see (something Jordan himself doesn’t seem to realize: that he is capable of so much more, yet he chokes when facing big challenges).

Peter Sarsgaard is spectacularly well cast as one of the two main nemeses, Hector Hammond, a PhD in xenobiology who is infected by the molecular structure of the deceased predecessor to Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern, and becomes a high-strength telepathic/telekinetic villain. Harnessing fear (the yellow force, as opposed to will, the green force that powers the Green Lantern Corps), both Hammond and Parallax offer us two formidable foes for the newly-minted Green Lantern (Hal Jordan). Obviously, this is a campy movie intended to take your mind away from your daily woes, not the more thoughtful and message-carrying X-Men: First Class.

Side note: X-Men: First Class is also a special-effects-fueled superhero affair worth seeing – review forthcoming. But back to Green Lantern. I absolutely loved this movie, not only because Carol Ferris is not the damsel in distress but a strong woman, but also because Ryan Reynolds offers the best portrait of Green Lantern and Hal Jordan we could ask for. He’s a human, with flaws, but shows us an inner strength worth imitating.

Green Lantern opened today June 17th. You can check showtimes for Green Lantern in Vancouver in this link. I strongly recommend you go see it.

UPDATE – Found some footage that may also entice you more to come see it. It’s a good synopsis of how Hal Jordan ended up as the new Green Lantern and what the Guardians expect from him, the Green Lantern Corps and his training in the planet Oa.

Disclosure: I took JT to the opening night and paid on my own dime for both of our tickets.

Upcoming event – Movie premiere, “The Widow Colony”

Raul — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:00:58 +0000

My friend Kulpreet (who is a WordPress wizard and has presented at both previous WordCamps, Vancouver and Fraser Valley) asked me whether I could highlight an upcoming event, the movie premiere of the movie “The Widow Colony”. The film examines the events after the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre that took place right after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

“The Widow Colony — India’s Unsettled Settlement”, borrows its name from the settlement in Tilak Vihar, on the west-side of New Delhi, which is locally called the Widow Colony or Vidhva Colony. The film takes the viewer to the streets of Trilokpuri, Kalyanpuri, Himatpuri, Sultanpuri and Mongolpuri, the same localities that suffered the major brunt of the Sikh killings in November of 1984. Director Harpreet Kaur, uses the testimonies of the widows and subject experts, along with images of the killings and destruction that followed after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to convey the trauma of the widows, their battle for justice and their struggle for survival in India.
[The Widow Colony website]

The film is showing at 2,4,6:15 and 8:30pm on October 3rd and 1:30pm, 4, 7, and 9pm on October 4th at the Surrey Arts Center (Bear Creek Park). Tickets are $10 and can be ordered by phone at 778-319-1699. Further details can be found on the movie website.

I will be going to the October 4th, at 7pm showing if anyone wants to join me. This is a very worthy charitable cause and I would seriously encourage my readers to buy tickets and attend. Also, feel free to reblog, re-tweet, etc.

Movie review – Juno

Raul — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:54:06 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of Ellen Page, but was really disappointed at the fact that I couldn’t get to see it with the friends that I usually hang out with. EVERYONE had seen it by the time I could make some space in my life to see it. Thus, with the headache, I figured I needed a couple of relaxed nights to relieve the pain and rented two movies.

The first one, 27 Dresses I saw in theatres so I didn’t mind seeing a re-run. I loved the soundtrack and the movie, and since it was 2×1 rentals at my local video store I went and rented Juno too. Many people have reviewed the movie at length (16 yr old, ultra-witty and smart, is faced with the reality of an unplanned pregnancy and decides to give the baby in adoption to a man who is unhappy with his marriage and not prepared to be a father and an uptight woman who desperately wants to be a mother).

Of course, the movie is funny and heart-warming, but I just wanted to call attention to the subtleties and depths of Ellen Page’s acting skills. After she has given birth and she is cuddling up to her boyfriend, you can see her silently crying. Page shows so much pent up emotion just flowing now after the baby’s birth … you can also feel what she’s thinking “what now?“. Fear of the future is something very, very scary.

I really enjoyed the movie and of course, particularly enjoyed Ellen Page. I was also pleasantly surprised at how well Juno’s father and step-mother supported her throughout the pregnancy, and in particular Brenda (the step mom, played by Allison Janney who has earned now much more my respect). Had I not been rooting for Julie Christie, I think my second choice for Best Actress this year would have been Ellen Page. Good work.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=K0SKf0K3bxg]

Movie and event review – GLOBAL METAL at 319 Main

Raul — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:31:02 +0000

“Global Metal” is a wonderful documentary that undertakes an anthropological exploration of the impact of heavy metal on the lives of rockers in different parts of the world, from India to Iran. These are photos from the special screening at 319 Main, put out by First Weekend Club.

First Weekend Club is a non-profit organization that strives to build audiences for great Canadian films through grassroots initiatives such as special screenings, Q&As with talent, premiere parties, movie alerts and much more! First Weekend Club is a free cross Canada film club that encourages members to attend opening weekend screenings. Hence the name, First Weekend Club [FWC]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C8Ybq__3Rg&hl=en]

Global Metal: 7 countries, 3 continents, one common theme = heavy metal.

Thanks to a little angel (Marina), we have been invited a couple of times to events that the First Weekend Club organizes. Recently, Rebecca and I got invited by FWC to attend the premiere of “Global Metal”, to which we both said “YES!”
I brought Andy and Beth along with me, and I knew that Rebecca was bringing her sister, brother-in-law and Trevor, so this was a good small group. Besides, pretty much all of us are linked by blogging one way or another.

The documentary is pretty good, well crafted. From the get-go, the filmmaker makes it explicit that, given his academic training and his interest in heavy metal, he wants to do an anthropologial exploration of how heavy metal shapes the lives of people who are involved in it, and whether “metal is metal everywhere in the world“. The only problem that I had with the documentary was that it didn’t provide me with a roadmap. I had forgotten that there were seven countries in three continents, so I was exhausted by the time we hit Indonesia!

From the research side of things (yes I know, hate me because I am an academic), I was very intrigued by the participatory nature of this ethnography of heavy metal. The filmmaker’s (Sam Dunn) first film was aptly titled “Metal: A Headbanger Journey”.

I was also puzzled by the strategy that Dunn follows. When I do ethnographic research, I try to immerse myself in the local culture and the community. Whereas in Global Metal, due to the overall nature of the documentary (covering more ground and comparing different cultures and how the local rockers use heavy metal to express their discontent with the status quo, and to channel anger and discontent with the global), it was hard for the filmmaker to really immerse himself in the culture. Still, a great overview of different countries’ heavy metal.

Finally, one of the things that I also picked up from the movie was the concept of globalization. I think Dunn was asking the question of whether globalization had had any effect on the diffusion of heavy metal throughout the world. I would argue that the adoption of this type of music has not been dependent on the cultural differences (or I’d say, has nothing to do with them) but it has been widely perceived (heavy metal, that is) as one type of music that allows people of all races, classes, ethnicities, and social groups to come together and just ROCK ON.

Overall, I had a really great time, I had a chance to hang out with good friends, and to rock out with Vancouver’s ENTROPIA. Although, funny enough, I am pretty sure that both Andy and Beth were surprised to see me doing the horns sign with my hands, because I look so “boy-next-door”-ish. Truth be told, I *love* me some heavy metal. And in celebration of heavy metal, Rock You Like a Hurricane by Scorpions with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXT_voYw9FY&hl=en]

I will link to Rebecca’s awesome review as soon as I can fix up my laptop, which is dying, so I am writing this review almost blindly. [UPDATE - There, I could find the link although you would not believe it if I told you I am almost typing in a black screen ]

Movie review – Sex and the City (The Movie)

Raul — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:44:42 +0000

I’ll have to confess that I am in the minority of the male population who actually will want to see this movie. I rarely watched Sex and the City, but all my female friends did, and it soon became a topic of conversation. Louis Vuitton, stylettos, and closet sizes soon became part of our chats. The interesting bit is that the demographics that I expected were totally fulfilled when I saw the movie earlier this week:

- % of males in the audience – close to 10%
- % of females talking loudly in the audience – close to 85%
- Number of times I had to “SHHHHH” loudly to have someone shut up – 25
- Number of times I heard someone sob loudly – 10
[EDIT - Number of times I felt bad about said person sobbing loudly - 10]
- Number of times I shed tears – 4
- Number of times I said “OUCH” – 1
- % of the overall content of the soundtrack that I loved – 99%
- Songs I particularly liked
– Flash (by Ciara)
– The Look of Love (Nina Simone remixed)
– Labels or Love (Fergie)

You can read better reviews of the movie, by Rebecca, Keira-Anne, Jennifer, as I am not really a SATC follower.

One thing I did notice is that there was a lot of intimate scenes. Now, I am not a prude by any measure, but I thought that these were… not exactly needed, if I may say so. But my overall feeling of the movie was that it was a story of love, redemption, and more than anything, one of the most profound and glowing forms of love I have been witness to: friendship.

Finally, the movie made me reflect about love in general, and one person in particular who lives far away from Canada. I am not sure this person has been able to find love (even though this person is already married) but one thing I can sure say is “good riddance!” I’ll find love with someone else. I deserve to find the love of my life and I am sure I will find it some day.

Here are the three YouTube videos I found for the three songs I really liked.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_8laPFP0B0&hl=en]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs2frnOcXtM&hl=en]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke3JOAXD1F8&hl=en]