Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Inglourious Basterds"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies

"Inglourious Basterds": Dir. Quentin Tarentino Characters/Actors: Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), SS Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), Shosana (Melanie Laurent), Diane Kruger, etc.

Rated R for profanity and graphic violence

In Nazi-occupied France, a Jewish girl named Shosana hiding under the floorboards at a farmhouse barely survives after a ruthless SS officer (Christoph Waltz) has her whole family slaughtered. Under a new identity, as a movie theater owner, the Jewish girl plots her revenge.

Elsewhere in Europe, a untit of mostly Jewish-American soldiers, under the command of U.S. Lieutenant Aldo Raine parachutes into enemy territory nearby to torture, kill, and scalp as many Nazi soldiers as possible. In more recent parlance, they are waging pre-emptive war or committing war crimes, depending on your point of view. Those few German soldiers whose lives they spare have their foreheads carved with a swastika.

Lt. Raine's men are nicknamed the "Inglourious Basterds" by a very worried German high command, including a paranoid and supersitious Adolf Hitler, but SS officer Hans Landa may foil the 'Basterds' plans to create as much Nazi-killing mayhem as humanly possible. As in most Quentin Tarentino movies, the dialogue is the best part of the film, but be forewarned: a lot of the movie is in German, French, or Italian, with English subtitles; which can be a little hard to keep up with at times. Also, the violence is graphic and sometimes over the top, with at least one head bashed in with a baseball bat and many dead Nazis shown being scalped. Not as good as "Pulp Fiction" or the "Kill Bill" movies, but better than a lot of movies by more mainstream directors. The "Inglourious Basterds" act as if the Ends always Justify the means, just like the Nazis and the George W. Bush administration did after 9/11 occurred.

"Adam" (2009) (Independent Film) Character(s)/Actor(s): Adam Riki (?) (Hugh Dancy), Beth ( Rose Byrne), Peter Galagher, Amy Irving, etc.

A school teacher and children's book author inexplicably has a relationship with a young man with Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. Adam is a very sweet and intelligent man, but due to his autism he has a difficult time with socializing and he has an extremely difficult time with a romantic relationship. I normally hate chick flicks and romantic comedies, but this movie was quite unique and worth seeing. However, it would be just as good on Redbox or Netflix or Cable when it eventually arrives there.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "500 Days of Summer"

Characters: Summer (Zooey "Yes Man" Deschanel), Tom (Joseph "Third Rock From the Sun" Gordan-Leavit), etc.

An idealistic lovelorn man temporarily attains his seemingly unattainable dream girl at the greeting card company where he works, but eventually Cupid's arrow is for unrequited love for the one he comes to believe is his "soulmate". Tom (Joseph Gordan-Leavit) is an architectural school graduate who settles for a job as a greeting card writer. He isn't particularly happy there, until the lovely and effervescent Summer (Zo(o)ey Deschanel) comes into his life. She tells him up front that she a: isn't looking for a boyfriend and b: she doesn't believe in love, but he pursues her nevertheless. They become good friends and basically have, as young people say these days a "friends with benefits" relationship. Around the time their relationship might progress to the next level she inexplicably moves away and he is so devastated and hurt that his job performance suffers. As a rule I hate so-called "romantic comedies", but I consider this an anti-romantic comedy mostly from the male point of view. In a non-linear fashion, the movie shows random moments of the ups and downs of their relationship, like the shuffling of a deck of cards. He comes to think she's his soulmate, but like the season itself, summer is bound to end and he must move on to another season and be open to the possibility of finding someone else. Well worth seeing, especially with someone of the opposite sex.

Poetry: "Clutter" A Work in Progress

Poetry: "Clutter" A Work in Progress

[Note: I'm somewhat of a slob, but I'm not this bad.]

A pile of papers

A mountain of mail

If they graded housekeeping

I'd certainly fail.

Clutter, clutter, everywhere

And not much room to move

To clean things much, much better

For me, it would behoove... (to be cont'd)

Poetry: "Origami" A work in progress

Poetry: "Origami" A Work in Progress

What if Origami came to life?

With unfolded wings it did take flight

Could you kill it with a knife?

Or sic it on your unfaithful wife?... (to be cont'd)

Poetry: "Dorothy Parker At The Movies", etc.

Poetry: "Dorothy Parker At The Movies", etc.

Popcorn's too pricey.

Drinks make me pee.

Candy oft falls down

Or gets all over me...

"A Not-So Pristine World" [A work in progress]

The world was once pristine.

Now it is a sewer.

It really ain't too clean

And the animals are fewer

Plus some pollution is also caused by a well-known famous brewer... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "Exquisite Female Entity"

Poetry: "Exquisite Female Entity"

Exquisite Female Entity

Will you go in a tent with me

We could go on a shopping spree

For camping gear for you and me

Exquisite Female Entity

Will you give your key to me?

Love is thus the plea from me

For winning the hand of she or thee.

Exquisite Female Entity

Please don't ever flee from me

I could ski with she or thee

Or with her drink some lemon tea.

Exquisite Female Entity

Will you run away with me?

Imagine what might be for we

If I got down on a knee for thee... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "The Malevolent Militia"

Poetry: "The Malevolent Militia"

The Malevolent Militia

Took over a town

They quickly turned things upside-down.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over a village

They victimized the people and looted and pillaged.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over the county

For any insurgents they had a high bounty.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over a city,

On those living there they had no pity.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over the state

Those that they killed had a horrible fate.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over the nation

Denying too many their valuable rations.

The Malevolent Militia

Took over the world

Into mass graves many corpses were hurled... (to be cont'd?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies [Note: I'm contemplating starting another blog devoted to movies, mostly science-fiction and horror.]

"District 9": In this movie about twenty years ago, an alien ship from outer space appears over Johannesburg, South Africa. Before long, millions of the giant, shrimp-like aliens, derogatorily referred to as "Prawns" are herded into a tent city slum and are forbidden to roam among humans. People of all kinds hate them, feel comtempt for them, and sometimes even kill them for little or no reason. Superstitious people even eat their body parts in hopes of gaining their "power". Ironically, the Prawns have advanced weaponry, but they opt not to use it on their human oppressors. Also, these weapons can only be wielded by the aliens.

Wikus Van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is in charge of evicting the Prawns from their tent city, and corral them into a guarded refugee camp. Somehow, while attempting to evict the Prawns a mishap occurs and one character undergoes a transformation, kind of like Gregor Samsa in Franz Kafka's novella "Metamorphosis". Once the powers that be discover the transformation, the military and government plot to dissect and kill him for biotech and military weapon purposes. The mutated character manages to escape and reluctantly helps some of the Prawns in order to survive. This movie is an allegory of apartheid, racism, militarism, and man's inhumanity to others. The first half of the movie was slow-paced, but after the transformation the movie has action aplenty. I rather liked this movie. Also, Peter Jackson, director of "The Lord of the Rings" series directed this film.

"G-Force" in 3-D A kid's movie about anthropomorphic, talking guinea pigs, a mole, and a housefly who are secretly spies, who just may save humanity from an evil plot. There were some funny moments, but the movie would appeal more to very young kids;not so much adults. Save your money and wait until it's on video or television.

Poetry: "Hit By A Train"

Poetry: "Hit By A Train"

A guy from Maine

Who walked with a cane

Was very careless and

Got hit by a train

Tracks were splattered with parts of his brain

Witnesses saw it from way down the lane

I couldn't imagine his level of pain

While blood and guts seeped out like the rain... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "I'd Rather Be Asleep Than Go To A Wake"

Poetry: "I'd Rather Be Asleep Than Go To A Wake"

[Note: A distant aunt-in-law or step-aunt recently passed away and I'm very ambivalent about travelling the long distance for the wake and funeral. In fact, I might not go at all.]

I'd rather be asleep than go to a wake

If I missed a closed casket my heart wouldn't break

Nor deal with people who's smiles are so fake

Who you'd otherwise tell to go jump in a lake... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "The Hottest Day of the Year"

Poetry: "The Hottest Day of the Year"

Its the hottest day of the year

But not too hot to celebrate with cold beer

Sweating profusely like a river of tears

I'm not sure whether to mourn or to cheer

Melanoma is something to fear

Make sure you have suntan lotion gear

Scantily dressed ladies are about to appear. (to be cont'd)

Poetry: "The Spider's Website"

Poetry: "The Spider's Website"

A spider had a website

Hoping to catch a few flies

Instead, the arachnid

Lured quite a few bored and lonely guys... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "Nickeled and Dimed"

Poetry: "Nickeled and Dimed", etc.

Nickeled and Dimed

Banking fees ought to be a crime

Greedy bankers come out of the slime

And take your hard-earned money

While you toil in the grime

I bet they think its funny

Nickeled and Dimed

Banking fees ought to be a crime

Greedy bankers come out of the slime

And take your hard-earned cash

Bank profits rise

While our economy and stock market crash

With the passage of time... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry Fragment: "The way you think"

The way you think

Is like a tattoo drawn with indelible ink

Like Zambonis on a melting ink

Like rank garbage thrown down a sanitized sink... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry "The Bees Are Dying"

Poetry: "The Bees Are Dying"

They say the bees are dyin'

And we don't know why

There may soon be few fruits or veggies

So no more berry pies... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "Killing People Overseas"

Political Poetry: "Killing People Overseas"

Killing people overseas

With weapons of mass destruction

Bringing despots to their knees

Via the media's instructions

Make sure you have your keys

For there is overpopulation

Air pollution in the breeze

Is ruining every nation... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "Smoking Will Kill You"

Poetry: "Smoking Will Kill You"

Smoking will kill you

You might as well stop

You'll likely get winded by pushing a mop

Smoking will kill you

You might as well quit

Puffing won't benefit you

One bleeping bit... (to be cont'd?)

Essay: The Demise of Boston Radio's WBCN FM

Essay: The Demise of Boston Radio Station WBCN FM

After forty-one years Boston's progressive rock station WBCN FM went off the air forever on or around midnight on Wednesday August 12 at midnight. In its place was the new Mix 104.1, formerly Mix 98.5. A few DJs from WBCN, Toucher and Rich and a few to be named later moved to the new All Sports station at 98.5 FM.

WBCN had forty-one years of history, but it was no forgotten relic. In the beginning, in the late sixties, Peter Wolf was a DJ before he hit it big with the J. Geils band. Chalres Laquidara was a DJ for decades. The station frequently had on-air celebrities and live music. It also had the guts to play local musicians on the air. A Battle of the Bands called the WBCN Rumble became an annual tradition. In the seventies and eighties the station was a hard rock station, but some time in the nineties the station changed its format to so-called Alternative Rock. That made it appealing to young people and college students, but it may have turned off older listeners.

In the late eighties or early nineties WBCN aired the Howard Stern show, a raunchy comedy/talk show with very little music, with the shock jock known for pulling racy stunts and R-rated content on air, which likely turned off more potential listeners.. After Stern moved to satellite, BCN aired those other notorious shock jocks Opie and Anthony, whose mean-spirited comedy bits and stunts also likely turned off a lot of listeners. Not too long ago, BCN had some success with DJs Toucher and Rich, but they played little or no music and talked on and on about such inconsequential people as this insignificant guy Adolfo, a slob who probably lived with his parents. Anyway, I'm sure these guys turned off potential listeners who tuned in to hear music.

The consolidation of media by such giants as Clear Channel and Greater Media may also have hastened BCN's demise on free radio. Fortunately, the station is still available on WBCN.com and on high definition radio. Unfortunately, a receiver for high-def radio can run into hundreds of dollars, but I understand that a portable receiver may be available for under sixty dollars at certain stores. I hope that new sports station crashes and burns. I hope no other stations on free radio that I enjoy listening to will fade to black anytime soon.

Poetry: "Sheep Happens"

Poetry: "Sheep Happens"

Sheep happens when you join a frat.

And you'll wear a silly hat

When girls stop by to drink a keg

You'll see much more than their two legs... (to be cont'd?)

Poetry: "Ratgut Whiskey"

Poetry: "Ratgut Whiskey" A work in progress

[Note: I'm neither homeless nor a drinker]

Ratgut whiskey burns my throat

While I wear a tattered coat

Looking for a place to sleep

In a world with problems deep

I beg for alms just to survive

I suppose I'm lucky I'm still alive

Living here without a home

Like a nomad I do roam... (to be cont'd)

Sci-Fi Bri's Summer Movies

Sci-Fi Bri's Summer Movies

I am a big movie buff, particularly in the horror and science-fiction genre's. I haven't seen as many movies as I have in the past, but I'd say I see an average of at least one hundred movies a year (not including cable and DVDs). The following movies are, for the most part well worth seeing.

Best horror movie I have seen since May or earlier:

"Drag Me To Hell" starring Christina Lohman as a pretty young junior loan officer who has a Gypsy curse put on her after denying the wrong person a loan extension. This movie directed by Sam Raimi of the "Spider Man" franchise and "Evil Dead" trilogy fame. It had excellent suspense and special effects and it was also quite funny at times. It may be on home video by now.

Best kids movie I have seen this year: "Up" in 3-D

The newest animated Pixar film features Ed Asner as a crotchety retired balloon salesman who opts to attach thousands of balloons to his house and fly south rather than to go to an old-age home. He reluctantly takes along a stowaway, an enthusiastic but lonely Boy Scout.

Good and Some not-so-good Science Fiction.

J.J. Abram's "Star Trek"

The creator of such television hits as "Heroes", "Lost", "Fringe", and "Alias", among others, presents a big-screen reimagining of Gene Roddenbury's "Star Trek". In this one, a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar faces are up against a Romulan menace from the future who is in possession of a weapon which can quickly destroy entire planets. Just like in the original, cocky, young Starfleet cadet James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) bends the rules to beat an unbeatable test and after being snuck on board the starship U.S.S. Enterprise by a doctor friend (Bones McCoy[Karl Urban]) Kirk soon becomes captain. At first, Kirk and a not-so-in emotional control Commander Spock (Zacchary Quinto of "Heroes" fame) do not get along, but eventually they learn to respect and even like each other. Simon Pegg ( "Sean of the Dead") as a young Montgomery Scott ("Scotty") is underused and is mostly presented for comic relief. Zoe Saldana was also excellent as linguist Uhura, and you would never guess who she is involved with. Winona Ryder also has a cameo as Mr. Spock's ill-fated human mom. The crew from the original series, played by younger and different actors (except Leonard Nimoy as an older Spock from the future) help Kirk defeat the vengeful and ruthless Romulan (an unrecognizable Eric Bana of "Troy" and "The Incredible Hulk" fame). I'm a big fan of the "Star Trek " franchise and I had a ball at the IMax showing, but I can imagine most non-fans can have a good time as well. Hopefully, this cast will make many successful sequels. Star Trek, as Mr. Spock often says: may it "Live long and prosper."

"Terminator: Salvation": I can't recall who directed this sequel to the original "Terminator", the fourth movie in the series. In this one, John Connor is played by Christian Bale ("Batman Begins", "American Psycho", "The Machinist", etc.) His character is important, but not as important as you'd expect him to be. Also, Arnold Schwarzennegger has only a very short cameo, because it arguably wouldn't be "The Terminator" without him. I am a big fan of the "Sarah Connor Chronicles" though.

The short review of "Terminator: Salvation": In 2003, Death Row inmate Marcus Wright agrees to donate his body to science. Fifteen years later, "Judgment Day" has happened. After scientists at Cyberdine Industries create the Skynet computer, the machine becomes "Self-aware" and with an army of robots it strives to destroy the vestiges of mankind following a nuclear war. An adult John Connor leads the "resistance" of man against the machines. Fifteen years after supposedly being executed, Marcus Wright wakes up in the future unaware that he is now part cybernetic organism (cyborg). The big question is is he a good guy or is he malevolent? Helena Bonham Carter was also good as a terminally ill scientist who somehow becomes Skynet. Overall I liked this movie, but it was nowhere as good as the first three movies in the series by director James Cameron.

"Transformers II" In this summer blockbuster the Transformers robots who can transform into cars, trucks and household appliances come back to earth to combat the evil Decepticons, who are intent on destroying the human race. Shia Laboef's character goes off to college without the Transformers or his hot girlfriend, played by Megan Fox. While away at school, Shia's character has what he calls a "meltdown" in class and he starts writing strange hieroglyphs. This movie was ok, but it had more action than its nearly nonexistent plot. There was one scene I didn't see coming involving a girl who may be much more than what she seems.

Fantasy: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

In this sequel in the Harry Potter franchise Harry and his classmates must not only contend with the evil Voldemort and his henchmen at Hogwarts, but the raging teenage hormones which Harry, Ron Weasely, Hermione and many other of his cohorts feel. I really enjoyed this film and perhaps I'll gain a new perspective on it when I see it again in IMax 3-D.

Best independent film I've seen lately:

"Sunshine Cleaners" Amy Adams plays a maid having an unfulfilling life and an affair with a cop played by Steve Zahn (?) After she loses her job and her troubled young son needs tuition at a private school she finds out from the cop that cleaning up after violent crimes and suicides is a very lucrative business. With her semi-irresponsible sister she goes into business cleaning crime scenes. Amy Adams was great in this movie.