Sunday, December 11, 2011

Lost Highway (1997)


David Lynch’s Lost Highway is another foray into the director’s surrealist work such as Eraserhead or Mulholland Drive. I found it somewhat similar to the latter, which I thought was fascinating. While these films are seemingly random, vague, metaphorical and symbolic, Lynch prefers people to find their own conclusions about them. However, one thing I’ve come to believe is that Lynch may be indirect, but he is deliberate. This intent comes across strongest in emotional impact.

I found that in both Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway, the representation of altered mind-states allows the raw emotions of the character to carry through to the viewer. Metaphorical imagery is used throughout the film, which results in a direct emotional reaction from the viewer. So although Lost Highway is almost like two separate plots intertwined into one, and I’m not entirely sure what actually occurs in this film, it conveys the disarray and confusion of (who I believe is) the main character, Fred Madison.


In the beginning of the film, the viewer flies quickly down a long dark highway that out stretches before them. Obviously the title shows its also about being lost and the unknown; from the beginning the audience is thrown into the tumult of disarray. As I understand it, the main character commits a terrible crime, his mind can’t cope with it and creates some things in order to deal. The movie deals mostly with the reasoning and the repercussions of this crime. The intriguing fatale aura that surrounds his wife, played by Patricia Arquette, is indicative of how he felt about her-whether those feelings were truly warranted or not. The audience does not have a clear view into what actually happened; all we get is his scrambling, hindsight perception. This consists of suspicion, danger and death as Madison deals with what’s real.

It is often unsettling and confusing, although one may not always know why. One thing the audience may understand, and understand well, is that at least one person is in a terrible torturing fractured mess. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think this movie requires at least two viewings for an encompassing view. It's also not for everyone.

I'm Deranged - David Bowie

Beyonce - Countdown

Crocodile Bites Performer's Arm



Unfortunately, this performer didn't realize that "Chompers" (if that is his real name) was just letting the man annoyingly tap his nose and place his delicious appendage into Chomper's open mouth. The stoic patience of Chompers in contrast to the furious execution of his barrel-roll attack evokes cold Klingon-style vengeance as well as cartoon comedic timing with great effect!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Gamespot - FPS Genre Fatigue



Interesting piece by Gamespot UK. I agree with a lot of the suggestions. The thing that`s become annoying to me about Call of Duty style campaigns is that they are generally just glorified shooting galleries. As they mentioned, games with dynamic AI that are actually reacting to your strategies are much more entertaining to me.

Scarface - Keep Me Down

The Roots - Tip The Scale

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Lost In Translation (2003)


I must admit I kinda liked Sofia Coppola’s movie Marie Antoinette and the Virgin Suicides wasn’t bad. In Marie Antoinette, I generally liked the idea of showing how the dynamics of their everyday life was not unlike that of present day, and her relating of our social context to that figure in a pivotal point in history. Also, I recently saw Killa Bee Bill Murray in Broken Flowers, which was completed after this. I was curious to watch this movie. I do believe it has unique and enduring qualities and moments, but I wasn’t completely dazzled with the whole thing.

Bob Harris and Charlotte, are at different points in their lives, are married (and are in love with their spouses, I believe) but share a true chemistry. I am unsure, and I think it is meant to be ambiguous as to how they feel about each other. Is it a friendship or an affair, or something else? Are they in love or is it just that they are right together, or are they just unhappy with the lives that they lead with those they love? I believe these are the interesting questions; however much of this film is just watching them chill, pretty much. The acting is great, and much of the value comes from this subtly. At the same time, this can be somewhat uneventful and Charlotte’s exploratory adventures didn’t always help. While some of her expeditions were interesting, I feel like Coppola’s emphasizing Japanese difference (like Charlotte’s awe at Japanese people playing video games we find typical in Pacific Mall) was somewhat over the top. I felt instead of presenting it and letting it speak for itself, she presents the society and culture with a pretentious mysticism, and this is what made up much of the film.

Perhaps the real accomplishing feat is by Bill Murray, who does deliver a full-bodied experience. I think at the time that this film debuted, this was not expected from him, so the impact was that much more jarring and moving.

I was unaware Scarlett Johansson was the co-star, but I was pleasantly surprised. She was almost too beautiful for the role, but that’s probably one of the better a problems someone could have. Her acting is also great; she has dimensionality. Charlotte has charm, but she also has flaws that make her unlikeable. I should mention the same with Bob Harris. Perhaps part of my problem with this movie, was that they’re so good at replicating the everyday that it just became too mundane for me.
Although it might be difficult for some (including me) it might be hard to get through some of it, but I don’t think you can have a legit opinion unless you see it to the end. Overall, I found it was not-bad. It’s worth seeing.

9th Uno - Dannie

Black Star - K.O.S. (Determination)

Prince - Take Me with U