Seems like a lot of people are doing best of 2007 entries this month. As I said back in June 2007, my year sort of runs circumscribed by the hot Andalusian summers, so I’ve already done my best of 2007 list.
However, I thought I’d update that list a bit and write a little about what I’m looking forward to in 2008.
…I guess this is what I’d look like. Something fun from Matt Groenig and the folks that are working hard to bring us the Simpsons Movie.
Yes, I am a fan of the Simpsons. I don’t think it’s a show for kids under a certain age, but it is definitely fun for adults and older kids. I know that there is some controversy amongst parents about the Simpsons and the way they portray parents. Maybe I’ll change my tune when Sophia is a bit older. But at the moment, it’s a very funny show that rings true often.
I’ll definitely be going to see the movie.
In our community, the “year” sort of runs from September to July. At the moment, it feels like the end of the year as many of us are going our separate ways for the summer. I know that to those of you who don’t live in Spain, it doesn’t really make sense for things to be this way. But I assure you that when you’ve lived in Sevilla during July and August, it makes complete sense.
At any rate, the year is ending for me and I’ve been looking back over the year at my favourite albums, songs, groups, books, concerts and films.
Its official. Mel Gibson is a nut job. But I still kinda like him. I think he’d be my type of guy.
Go here and watch the trailer for Mel’s new movie. This frame is spliced into the trailer towards the end. I have never seen anything this whacked out and playful in a mainline movie trailer for a drama. Laugh of the day for me.
This is not a movie for the faint at heart. It’s about the downfall of Berlin as seen from inside Adolf Hitler’s bunker underneath the Chancillerie in the last few hours of the Third Reich. I’ve watched it twice today because it was quite simply unlike any other movie I have ever seen.
The movie has caused a lot of stir in Germany because it portrays Hitler as a human being rather than a monster. That said, it does not portray him in a favourable light. It shows him to be an incredibly screwed up, evil human being who was full of hate and venom. Swiss actor Bruno Ganz does and UNBELIEVABLE job of playing Hitler. Very convincing and disturbing. I seem to be into disturbing movies lately. Hmmm…
This movie also shows people around him who are caught up in a power structure they can’t get out from under without being executed. Others are somehow drawn to this man and his ideas even though they know that he is at least partly insane. It is amazing to see the bubble of ir-reality that developed around a man that was completely out of touch.
The whole movie is based on the memoirs of Traudl Junge, the young woman who was Hitler’s secretary during his last two years of life.
DISCLAIMER: If you are bothered by violence and disturbing images, do not see this movie. This movie will shake you in a way that no other movie about the second World War has before. Don’t see it unless you are ready for that.
Go see it if you can… It should be hitting the US this year, was a big smash in Germany this year and Europe earlier this year.
The tag line of the movie reads:
“We are the Edukators.
And we believe that society has become fat and bloated by greed.
We despise the so called high society and their decadence.
So we’re going to be knocking on your door,
disrupting your life, re-edukating you.”
Its a great movie about the morality of debt, interest and capitalism. It is also about being true to your values regardless of your station in life (i.e.- it’s easy to be a socialist when you are poor… what about when you are rich?). Asks pretty penetrating questions about what happens to us when we grow up and (possibly) lose our youthful enthusiasm, ideals and activism.
