Looking back

We are shackled by our technologies.
An addiction most unbecoming.

At what point does experience outweigh
   our feelings?

Folded, softly upon itself, now
   It's time to be, here.

Fully aware of this moment,
   and the moments to come.

Rain beats down, 100% chance
   that I'll later need a respite.

Nothing scripted, yet, what?
   Hopes?  of something different?
But enabled to embrace the largest
   difference, It's better,
     and as it should be.

Buzzing, and creeping by,
   at 60 miles an hour.
Slowing to an ending of
  foot on pavement long been
   trampled by
    countless others.

Still new to this moment,
    this experience, it
WILL exist as just it is when
    you first meet a feeling.

Bridges crossed, and paths
  travailed.
Intersecting the lives of others,
   flipped upside down to show my world,
on its end, and theirs immediately upstanding.

Random pints of luxurious lager,
   soaking my
    throat one moment,
     to be in an empty
        alleyway the next.

Early morning rise to
  be left wandering/wondering
   yet again.

Thinking of these things that
   aren't here, shouldn't be,
    couldn't, can't.

Endless streets filled with strangers
  that feel like friends.

Waiting becomes the way of the day.
Without apprehension,
   that's reserved
  for the repetition of
    continuous daily routines.

Tom Jones is telling me I'm crazy.
I'm killing Tom Jones with my mind.
While simultaneously lip-syncing to Tom Jones.

From "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts

Was reading today, and found this excerpt, speaks for itself.



..."For some reason, we(Americans) see long-term travel to faraway lands as a recurring dream or an exotic temptation, but not something that applies to the here and now.  Instead--out of our insane duty to fear, fashion, and monthly payments on things we don't really need--we quarantine our travels to short, frenzied bursts.  In this way, as we throw our wealth at an abstract notion called 'lifestyle,' travel becomes just another accessory--a smooth-edged, encapsulated experience that we purchase the same way we buy clothing and furniture...--no combination of one-week or ten-day vacations will truly take you away from the life you lead at home.
   "Ultimately, this shotgun wedding of time and money has a way of keeping us in a holding pattern.  The more we associate experience with cash value, the more we think that money is what we need to live.  And the more we associate money with life, the more we convince ourselves that we're too poor to buy our freedom.  With this kind of mind-set, it's no wonder so many Americans think extended overseas travel is the exclusive realm of students, counterculture dropouts, and the idle rich.
   "In reality, long-term travel has nothing to do with demographics--age, ideology, income--and everything to do with personal outlook.  Long-term travel isn't about being a college student; it's an act of common sense within society.  Long-term travel doesn't require a massive "bundle of cash"; it requires only that we walk through the world in a more deliberate way."

Recent films

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows: part 2

Well made, great ending to a decade long journey.  I'd really like to watch part 1 and part 2 back to back, but until then, Azkaban is still my favorite film in the series, but the last two together could take its place. 

Grade: A-

Captain America: The First Avenger

Good old-fashioned fun, Joe Johnston has crafted a well-made, rip-roaring time at the movies.  Loved it, third favorite film of the year so far.  See it, really got me excited for The Avengers next year.

Grade-A

Jon Favreau Interviews Spielberg, Howard, and Grazer

Cowboys and Aliens Interviews

more

and more

and even more

and the last

Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon

I wasn't going to see it, but I'd read some pretty good things about it.  That the 3D was the best since Avatar, that Michael Bay may have made his best movie yet.  Well, the latter is true, but that's really not saying much.  The movie is waaaaaaay too long, and the plot lacks any type of coherence.  This movie will make gobs of money, especially in middle America(don't mean to offend).  The action is pretty good, and for once you could kind of tell what was going on with ample amounts of slow-mo.  I say skip it, but if you do see it, you might have fun anyway.  Unintentionally funny sometimes, will help you pass the 2 and half hour running time.

D+

SUPER 8

A-

Oh what fun!

Recent viewings

Recent movies I've seen, with a few thoughts.

Bridesmaids--B-
I found this pretty funny.  I think it unravels a bit towards the end,  but a nice summer breeze of a movie.

X-Men: First Class--B+
I'm going to have to go back and watch the first two X-Men, but as of right now, I think this is my favorite of the franchise.

Midnight In Paris--A
Completely speaks to my sensibilities, loved it.  It's dissection of nostalgia has a whimsy that's intelligent and funny.  I'm going to see it again.

Super 8 will be next, at some point, not sure when.

http://cf.drafthouse.com/she_texted_we_kicked_her_out2.html

Double Feature

Here's a double feature for anyone that wants two dramatically different films, and yet, kind of have a lot in common.  One is a documentary, the other a silly, loud, video game of a movie.

Transcendent Man--B+

Gamer--D-

Update

Movies I've watched recently (some I hadn't seen, revisiting others):

Thor-good(see in 2D)
Somewhere- pretty good
The Way Back- see
No Strings Attached- see w/reservations
Rabbit Hole- pretty good
Roman Holiday- must see
Summertime- must see
Unstoppable-good action
Morning glory-see w/reservations
Conviction-skip
It's Kind of a Funny Story- kind of funny
Indescretion of an American Wife-skip
Metropolis Restored- must see of course
Ip Man- good martial arts if faulty history
The Sorcerer's Apprentice-watch Fantasia instead
Gotcha!- 80's cheese w/ a slice of WTF
The Passion of Joan of Arc- must see/pretty brilliant
Diabolique-Fantastic, must see
Sherlock Jr.-brisk fun, silent entertainment, gotta see
Love in the Afternoon-who knew Gary Cooper was so bad? See Roman Holiday instead
M. Hulot's Holiday-must see
Mon Oncle- must see not as much as above or Playtime
La Strada- so good, so great
Shoot the Piano Player- slow burner, must see
The 400 Blows- must must must see
Breathless- left me..., well, you get it
Gilda- Comme ci, comme ca
The Lady from Shanghai- see for the climax
Enter the Void- true cinema
Managment-or how stalking worked for me
The Bounty Hunter- Ugh
The Third Man- watch it again and again

Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench

I really wanted to love this film.  It's beautifully shot in black and white, and the musical numbers shine.  It's that rare mumblecore that I actually haven't cringed to get through, but as with most of them, there is really no story/plot surrounding this wannabe Demy.  The characters go absolutely nowhere except to a different city.  I did somewhat like it, and it does have its charms, but it never completely gelled for me.  That being said this gets my highest rating of any mumblecore yet.....C+