Ignorant Movie Review:  who killed the electric car?

Response to title:  ...this sounds like my kind've documentary...

Response to curbside poster:  Damn!  I forgot to look before I came in!

Pre-review blurb:  Before I give my actual review, here's my take on documentaries:  I believe they are a form of film making which attempts to create a narrative out of facts and personal anecdotes.  I will review documentaries based on how well I think the narrative is achieved.  Unless I feel it absolutely necessary to explain myself or show a falsification of information I will not include facts from a documentary in its review.

Response post-credits:  My very first reaction to this movie came before ever entering the theater.  Aside from walking past The Capitol Theater when the SuicideGirls came to town, I had never seen a line formed to get in.  That in Olympia an environmentally minded documentary could kindle similar levels of interest as altporn gave me something to smile about before I could even get inside.  The movie itself is an extremely professional documentary that effectively puts forth a case that short term profiteering is stomping out longterm health, national security and American business interests.  On a particularly emotional level I couldn't help but superimpose the Capitol Mall sculpture installation by the local Rachel Corrie chapter of Veterans for Peace on the facts of this movie.  This movie certainly makes silent assent to the actions of our government harder to swallow.  I recommend this movie to anyone who plans to stick it out on American soil and not expatriate.

bubbaz posting the link to Cartman selling fetuses over the phone made me look around for some more of my favorite "South Park" moments.

The Mormon episode and explanation of Joseph Smith is hilarious.

And then, of course, there's Cartman dealing with hippies.

Ma'am, I need to clear out your Giggling Stoners and your Drum Circle Hippies right now or soon they're going to attract something much worse: the College Know-It-All Hippie.

Last week's "South Park" dealt with the double-standard of a teacher having sex with a student (e.g. a male is going to prison for a while; a female is getting probation) and ripped on "Dog: The Bounty Hunter" (I don't watch "Dog" that much, but having the two cracked out co-workers of his was hilarious. Daaaaaa, that's what you get when you mess with tha Dog!).

Ignorant Movie Review:  This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Response to title:  I think I remember seeing something about this movie before.  If I'm not mistaken, it's a documentary about the MPAA and its rating process.

Response to curbside poster:  The effect of a steaming brand mimicking the ratings logo used by the MPAA combined with the Jack Valenti quote, "Filmmakers must decide what story to tell, and how to tell it", puts me in the mood to laugh at our sociatal "voluntary" censorship.  The flowing red background is a particularly nice symbolic touch evincing the passion/violence of blood amidst the sex and theater of curtains.

Response post-credits:  This is a really clean, well put together and chronological narrative of a documentary.  Its goal of looking behind the MPAA's proverbial curtain is achieved as every member of the 2005 board of reviewers and appeals is exposed.  The double standard of sex & violence in Hollywood is made explicit; likewise the double standard of heterosexual & homosexual relationships.  If you walk into this documentary with the assumption that America is relatively free of censorship, you will be summarily disabused of this notion.  In all of these respects, this is an excellent documentary.  My only gripe, and it's a needling one for me, is that the film's scope becomes too large.  At one point in the film our attention is directed toward the information monopoly that exists in our country.  Yes; this is true.  Yes; this is worrisome.  No; you should not use this information in documentary narrative building unless you can spend sufficient time on it so as to actually educate viewers on the implications of this fact.  This documentary uses that information in the "see! look at that! look at all the control they have!" mode, without actually examining the existant problem outside of the MPAA.  Outside of this personal gripe, this is definitely a fun and well made expose on a major censorship establishment in America.

Ignorant Movie Review:  This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Response to title:  I think I remember seeing something about this movie before.  If I'm not mistaken, it's a documentary about the MPAA and its rating process.

Response to curbside poster:  The effect of a steaming brand mimicking the ratings logo used by the MPAA combined with the Jack Valenti quote, "Filmmakers must decide what story to tell, and how to tell it", puts me in the mood to laugh at our sociatal "voluntary" censorship.  The flowing red background is a particularly nice symbolic touch evincing the passion/violence of blood amidst the sex and theater of curtains.

Response post-credits:  This is a really clean, well put together and chronological narrative of a documentary.  Its goal of looking behind the MPAA's proverbial curtain is achieved as every member of the 2005 board of reviewers and appeals is exposed.  The double standard of sex & violence in Hollywood is made explicit; likewise the double standard of heterosexual & homosexual relationships.  If you walk into this documentary with the assumption that America is relatively free of censorship, you will be summarily disabused of this notion.  In all of these respects, this is an excellent documentary.  My only gripe, and it's a needling one for me, is that the film's scope becomes too large.  At one point in the film our attention is directed toward the information monopoly that exists in our country.  Yes; this is true.  Yes; this is worrisome.  No; you should not use this information in documentary narrative building unless you can spend sufficient time on it so as to actually educate viewers on the implications of this fact.  This documentary uses that information in the "see! look at that! look at all the control they have!" mode, without actually examining the existant problem outside of the MPAA.  Outside of this personal gripe, this is definitely a fun and well made expose on a major censorship establishment in America.

Rating: 4 Oly Stubbies

Film Haiku:  Silence volunteers
          "to choose their fuck carefully",
                  pubic hair for hire!
               
Can be seen:  Olympia Film Society
                         206 5th Ave N
                     Olympia, WA  98501

                 Tuesday, October 24, 9pm
            Wednesday, October 25, 6:30pm
                Thursday, October 26, 9pm

I knew our electrical power was scheduled to be "temporarily interrrupted for system improvements" this morning. Between  8 - 12 was the time listed, so naturally the power shut off right as I stepped out of the shower. And what with this colder weather, I really wanted dry hair. I got dressed and then roamed around the neighborhood with blow dryer in hand, hoping someone would have mercy, but everyone near was in the same situation.

Once bundled up further, I ventured out to the crossroads of Harrison and Division. Traffic lights were running and the Vic's Pizzeria sign was aglow. Happy me.

I consider this morning's sunshine my own personal bonus to reward good behavior. Inevitably the rains will return yet the fact that Vic's is a good place will remain true and unchanged.

Vic's for pizza and beer, of course. The calzones are tasty as are the salads. And I've had some outrageously good soup there, they usually run one soup of the day, I especially sigh over their corn chowder.

Morning time, right now, means the sun is streaming in through the front wall of glass. A young man snug in his hoodie is diligent at his lap top. An older couple in sleek bicyclist garb are companionably sharing lattes, scones, and newspapers. The espresso machine is busy and my own Americano is going down smooth.

I love the morning light in here. The big red sturdy diner tables and padded chairs. I enjoy all the sounds of pizza prep: things are being chopped, the oven opens and closed, the music is upbeat to get us all into the groove.

This location in my memory has been at various times The Asterisk, The Red Giant, and now Vic's Pizzeria. I have some good stories about this place, in particular a let's-talk-with-Nazis one. Vic's tshirts (you can buy one) read Eat At Vic's. So now, you the reader, know your mission.

Ignorant Movie Review:  My Country, My Country

Response to title:  When I first saw the title it was on the OFS marquee and had been shortened to "My Country", which immediately brought to mind the Samuel Smith hymn, America.  I didn't realize my mistake until I saw the promo poster.

Response to curbside poster:  There's a fair amount going on here.  First of all, one of the "My Country" letterings is in a bold white font superimposed upon the other "My Country", which is printed in the same font but in grey and smaller than the first.  The second "My" is also subsumed by the first "Country".  The implication seems to be that one "My Country" is of greater import than the other.  As well, there is a picture of a man standing next to and pointing at the title while standing over some Arabic words which is probably/maybe Arabic for "My Country, My Country".  The primary picture is of an armed American soldier standing amidst Iraqi children (I assume).  I don't think this is going to be a laugher of a movie.

Response post-credits:  The documentary is fairly gritty, as befits the subject matter I suppose.  The film opens up in Iraq just prior to the January 30, 2005 election for the interim Iraq government.  It then proceeds to backtrack six months to primarily follow one candidate, Dr. Riyadh (a Sunni), and his story/campaign/family through the election.  The film has some general footage as well that includes American, Kurdish and Australian mercenary interests. 

Ignorant Movie Review:  My Country, My Country

Response to title:  When I first saw the title it was on the OFS marquee and had been shortened to "My Country", which immediately brought to mind the Samuel Smith hymn, America.  I didn't realize my mistake until I saw the promo poster.

Response to curbside poster:  There's a fair amount going on here.  First of all, one of the "My Country" letterings is in a bold white font superimposed upon the other "My Country", which is printed in the same font but in grey and smaller than the first.  The second "My" is also subsumed by the first "Country".  The implication seems to be that one "My Country" is of greater import than the other.  As well, there is a picture of a man standing next to and pointing at the title while standing over some Arabic words which is probably/maybe Arabic for "My Country, My Country".  The primary picture is of an armed American soldier standing amidst Iraqi children (I assume).  I don't think this is going to be a laugher of a movie.

Response post-credits:  The documentary is fairly gritty, as befits the subject matter I suppose.  The film opens up in Iraq just prior to the January 30, 2005 election for the interim Iraq government.  It then proceeds to backtrack six months to primarily follow one candidate, Dr. Riyadh (a Sunni), and his story/campaign/family through the election.  The film has some general footage as well that includes American, Kurdish and Australian mercenary interests. 

As the documentary's primary target is a medicinal doctor, this invites the audience to share in the similarities of humanity and silently begs the question:  though we may not share the same religion, or city, or house, or day-to-day existence, don't we all get sick or hurt and need assistance?  Unfortunately, the movie is all too successful at capturing the sheer difficulty of living in big city Iraq at the end of 2004 and beginning of 2005 by simply being present and filming.  Violence, suspicion and hatred abound.  Death is so omnipresent that it's more of a running joke than biting commentary.  This fact alone seems to unintentionally undo much of what Laura Poitras attempts to accomplish by virtue of displacing the current Iraqi existence so far out of the casual American's scope that relating becomes nigh impossible.  I did not leave the movie feeling particularly hopeful or light afoot.

Rating:  3.7 Oly Stubbies

Film Haiku:   They write right to left,
             "when will sadness set you free?"
                 Joke before death's door.

Can be seen:  Olympia Film Society
                         206 5th Ave N
                     Olympia, WA  98501

                  Tuesday, October 24, 6pm
             Wednesday, October 25, 9:30pm
                 Thursday, October 26, 6pm