A Great Quote...and Article

"I'm always reminded of Plato, when he speaks of man as a thoroughbred who needs a stinging fly to get him galloping across the field, so that he can realize he is a thoroughbred."

--from an interview with Barbara Nicolosi-Harrington, a Hollywood screenwriter and professor at Pepperdine University.

Movie Club

I made a post awhile back about starting an online movie watching club. I'm jonesing for it. I know Scott expressed some interest, but maybe he's the only one. I just watched an hour long documentary by Alexandra Pelosi, called Friends of God. It's a road trip about the evangelical movement, including a stop at the Orlando Holy Land theme park, a visit to a wrestling show of the Christian Wrestling Federation, as well as interviews with Jerry Falwell and Ted Haggard.

It's not as awful as one would suspect, considering Alexandra is the daughter of Nancy Pelosi. She has a winning personality and a quirky sense of humor, and except for rare moments, you feel there is no mockery of her subjects, but rather an honest curiosity about people who are strangers to her.

I'd love to discuss it with some other people.

Maybe I should start up another blog, and anyone who's interested could log on. I don't know if Mark M. still frequents my blog, but it would be fun discussing some movies with you too, as well as the rest of you.

More Tolkein?

Look at this!

Scott, I think you'll really dig this newsbit.

God Grew Tired of Us

I'm half way through one of the most moving and powerful films I've ever seen. I think everyone should see this movie about the "lost boys of Sudan."

I am left with two questions: what have I done to deserve a life better than these men and boys?

And secondly: how must I respond to the knowledge that there are people in the world who are suffering right now as greatly as these men have suffered?

When I see a film like this it makes me realize that we in America will be held responsible for the many blessings that have been poured upon us.

007

I've been watching Casino Royale over the past couple of days. The last time I saw it was in the theaters, and I forgot how great the movie is. I just finished the last 30 minutes, and if you ask me, it's the best bond movie out there since it's the first time Bond isn't something other than a veiled super hero, but actually shows his foibles and vulnerabilities.

And the last scene with the villa in Venice that went down was very, very cool.

I give it five stars, without reservation, and I think Daniel Craig is the best James Bond--even better than Sean Connery.

Sacrilege, I know.

Planet Earth

If you haven't done so yet, put Planet Earth in your queue. Don't wait--just do it now. It's one of the best series I've ever seen, and I suspect you'll agree. It's easy to watch one disc in one sitting--three hours of nothing but nature, but nature in ways you've never seen, and images of animals and places that have never before been filmed. Amazing stuff.

Me and Isaac Newton

Here's a Netflix recommendation: Me and Isaac Newton. I just finished watching it--very interesting film featuring interviews with seven leading scientists in diverse fields, including cancer research, quantum physics, cognitive psychology, primatology and several more. These are all brilliant individuals discussing their work, their method of learning and inspiration, their successes and failures and hopes for the future.

There is a nobel prize winner among them, the woman who helped find a drug that cures leukemia in 80% of children now, as well as a MacArthur Fellowship recipient. The latter has my favorite line from the movie: "Failures are the fertilizers of our accomplishments."

If you're in the mood for a documentary, I highly recommend it. I find discussions with successful, brilliant people to be inspiring, and this was no exception.

The Queen

I just finished watching the last 30 minutes or so of The Queen, which was just released on DVD a week or so ago. I highly recommend it. Helen Mirren's performance is remarkable, and the movie is a fascinating look into a world that is very foreign to us here in America. I suggest popping it in your queue.