Ignorant Movie Review:  Clerks II

Addendum:  This is the first movie I've seen at the OFS of which I had decently founded expectations.  When I first saw Clerks I was working at Hollywood Video in Seattle's Ranier Valley; it changed movies for me.  Clerks not only got me away from the Sci-Fi and Anime aisles for post-work movie zoning, it brought Independant films into my scope.  In many ways I see Clerks as generationally similar to The Last Picture Show.  That being said, I went to see Kevin Smith's latest with great hope.

Response to title:  Yes!  Oly rocks!

Response to curbside poster:  Yes!  Oly rocks!

Response post-credits:  I feel betrayed by Kevin Smith as a storyteller.  I feel like the only reason I left this movie happy I had seen it was because he played the sentimental card.  There were certainly some funny moments (I love Silence of the Lambs!), but too many of the jokes were flat, and it wasn't just the delivery.  Maybe this movie, despite it being a true sequal, should just be referred to as Kevin Smith's Episode I.

Rating:  2 out of 5 Oly Stubbies.

Film Haiku:  Kevin Smith, you jerk,
                 "Pillow Pants'll bite it off"

Ok, we're on!   As long as we have the City Council wondering if we should be able to sit on the sidewalk downtown or stand around in a public space or wander aimlessly in the urban area, why don't we go for the whole enchilada and ban the carrying or possession of any firearms or knives or baseball bats in the downtown area. Let's make the downtown truly safe.

Why just do away with the first amendment?  I think we can get at least two with each new ordinance. 

What say you?

Ignorant Movie Review:  Brothers of the Head

Response to title:  What is that?  Oh yeah, I saw the preview last week.  I'm going to have to make a point of missing the previews, somehow or other...

Response to curbside poster:  Rawk on!  Arrrrrrrr conjoined twins split by an...acoustic guitar?  Oh, I know...Conjoined twins torn twosome by their love of music; one loves Dokken and the other Folk Rockin'!

Ignorant Movie Review:  Brothers of the Head

Response to title:  What is that?  Oh yeah, I saw the preview last week.  I'm going to have to make a point of missing the previews, somehow or other...

Response to curbside poster:  Rawk on!  Arrrrrrrr conjoined twins split by an...acoustic guitar?  Oh, I know...Conjoined twins torn twosome by their love of music; one loves Dokken and the other Folk Rockin'!

Response to movie:  There is a lot going on in this movie and I'm still struggling with it.  The movie itself is a serious This is Spinal Tap in that it too is a Mock Rockumentary (Rockumocktary?), and instead of having a cheap prop for a gimmick the band is built around a singer-guitarist conjoined brother act.  It is set in the present, yet the majority of the movie takes place in early 70's England.  The director of a fictionalized movie based on a book about the brothers is interviewed; likewise the book's author.  A woman is involved (shedding new light on Yoko?).  They even directly address the aspect of exploitation in the act, which struck me because a lot of the initial appeal of the movie is the bizare subject matter.  So...perhaps a commentary on how our interest in and subsequent exposure of the different isn't simply reductional to exploitation, rather, we're people and we seek out and champion these differences?  As this entire movie only alludes to reality it seems the premise is about the exploitation of the audience (modern movies? modern music? modern art?) rather than the artist.  And the conclusion...I don't know, maybe you can go watch it and educate me.

 It's not the kind of thing I'm normally into, I don't find myself attracted to married women. When you see that one girl though, and then figure out she has an album that you like every single track on, well it's love right?
 So yeah, Michelle Branch is my crush, and has been for awhile. She's the only musician I've ever had a crush on, or celebrity in general.
  Does anyone else out there have a crush like this? or just an album that they liked every song on?

Norm

Neoliberal Destructions, featuring: P. Sainath: The Body Count in India, and Alexander Cockburn: The Counter Attack

When: Thursday, September 28 7:30 pm
Where: The Evergreen State College
Seminar II, Building D, room 1105
Free Admission

http://counterpunch.org/events.html

Ignorant Movie Review:  Clerks II

Addendum:  This is the first movie I've seen at the OFS of which I had decently founded expectations.  When I first saw Clerks I was working at Hollywood Video in Seattle's Ranier Valley; it changed movies for me.  Clerks not only got me away from the Sci-Fi and Anime aisles for post-work movie zoning, it brought Independant films into my scope.  In many ways I see Clerks as generationally similar to The Last Picture Show.  That being said, I went to see Kevin Smith's latest with great hope.

Response to title:  Yes!  Oly rocks!

Response to curbside poster:  Yes!  Oly rocks!

Response post-credits:  I feel betrayed by Kevin Smith as a storyteller.  I feel like the only reason I left this movie happy I had seen it was because he played the sentimental card.  There were certainly some funny moments (I love Silence of the Lambs!), but too many of the jokes were flat, and it wasn't just the delivery.  Maybe this movie, despite it being a true sequal, should just be referred to as Kevin Smith's Episode I.

Rating:  2 out of 5 Oly Stubbies.

Film Haiku:  Kevin Smith, you jerk,
                 "Pillow Pants'll bite it off"

Sometimes the very best stress relief possible is to sit back and watch cats do a scene from Hamlet. Enjoy.

[If video cuts out early, view through Cat Head Theatre.]

Has anyone else notice a change in the script at KPLU?

PUGET SOUND ENERGY DONATES TO KPLU'S OLYMPIA EXPANSION

(Seattle-Tacoma) Puget Sound Energy recently announced its award of $50,000 to support KPLU-FM in a capital investment for the Olympia market.

KPLU, one of the most listened-to National Public Radio affiliates in the country, reaches more than three million people in the Pacific Northwest with its award-winning blend of news, jazz and blues. The grant from Puget Sound Energy will allow KPLU to locate and activate an antenna and transmitter on the Olympia's Raad Building. The location will allow KPLU, broadcasting over signal KPLI at 90.1 FM, to reach Olympia's 60,000 residents and up to 130,000 people in the outlying area.

"Olympia has been a significant listening audience for KPLU for the past 20-plus years," said Kerry Swanson, chief operating officer for KPLU. "This new signal will provide even more service to the area, strengthening public broadcasting in the state capital."

Puget Sound Energy's service area mirrors KPLU's reach in the region, making the partnership a natural fit for the two entities.

"Our employees use and support public radio," said Phil Pussey, PSE's senior vice president of corporate affairs. "We believe strengthening KPLU's connection with the citizens of south Puget Sound will be a great benefit to everyone in the region."

So, the questions keep coming up.  What kind of community do we want to co-exist in. Should we subsume our unique perspective, wishes, and work to create a beloved community into some kind of civic club where moderates like Norm can laugh at the left and right as we try to find common ground? 

I don't think so.  I think the community is vibrant and real if we all speak our minds and are true to our hearts.  If we speak the truth as we know it and we take up the work that our hearts find meaningful. 

A path with heart is not necessarily a four lane highway where we all compromise, where we park the bikes and the SUVs, and all agree to drive sensible subcompacts.