Visual&MentalAssault: Film by idiots, about idiots, for idiots

I finally got 'Idioterne (The Idiots)' by Lars Von Trier on DVD after having my last purchase from Amazon UK banned by MDA. This completes my collection of The Golden Heart Trilogy films including Breaking The Waves and Dancing In The Dark. It's a shocking and unconventional take on challenging social norms and self-expression. Completely weird and irrelevant on the surface but absolutely stunning and moemorable beneath. I am waiting eagerly for the second of the America - Land of Opportunites trilogy film, Manderlay, which is predeced by the excellent Dogville from 03.

Nature?

Watched Madagascar with a couple of friends yesterday. And of course, it wasn't the wisest thing to do trying to watch an animated feature on the first day of the school vacation. As expected, unthinking parents brought along children who fidgeted and screamed fifteen minutes into the movie till the end, and slapped our heads conscientiously at timed intervals.

Apart from the minor disturbances, let me talk about the movie. Like Shark Tale, the story borders on being a shallow tale. Some of the scenes like the animals taking the city subway and roaming the streets are just simply incredulous. Dialogs are sometimes banal or slapstick, although I must say the star of the voiceovers must be Chris Rock who brings his comedic persona into the character of Marty.

The scene where Marty and Alex meet on the beach after a near-shipwreck set against the Vangeli's Chariots of Fire is simply cheesy while the one with Alex mimicking the famous rose-dropping in American Beauty was top-notch.

In the end, I am not too sure if they are advocating that animals should be kept
in captivity so that they don't have to face the adverse conditions of the wilderness or we should celebrate the camaraderie between different spieces though the thought of a carnivorous animal thinking twice before satisying its ravenous appetite in the wild is rather unthinkable. Perhaps you have todecide for yourself.

Well, there's still good - the music in the feature, especially the Ali G remake of Reel to Real's I Like To Move It, does bring Madagascar out of its doldrums at the right time. (B-)

Visual&MentalAssault: Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

Never did sit down properly to read this classic, so I am doing a re-read of the book that is a great introduction to contemporary philosophy. Not someone for lengthy books, but this second reading has challenged me more than the first time.

Visual&MentalAssualt: Sommersturm

I watched this German film on Saturday. It's Marco Kreuzpaintner's Sommersturm (Summer Storm). The bittersweet movie features a stellar performance by its lead Robert Stadlober as Tobi and explores his road to self-discovery and identity through his long-standing secret admiration and love for his best pal, Achim. Very heartachingly poignant. (A+)

Dogs and Dogster

On the topic of Friendster and blogging, do you know that there's a Friendster of sorts for doggies too? Here it is Dogster. Of course, my dear marble has one too: Ble's Dogster Profile :)

AuralAssault: Anniemal

I am crazy about this right now. Listen to Annie's "Anniemal." It is a good slice of Scandinavian (specifically Norwegian) electronic pop music. On "No Easy Love," fellow countrymen of Royksopp lends a helping hand, creating a track that could have been one on Melody A.M. On "Greatest Hit" which was first released in 1999, Annie and her late producer-boyfriend sampled Madonna's seminal disco track "Everybody" to great aplomb. It was reportedly said that Annie's album was much delayed 'cos of her late boyfriend's early departure at the age of 23 shortly after "Greatest Hit" was recorded. Nuff said, savour the greatness!