Culture Shock
Avatar
Brandy Robertson
First of all I am going to admit the fact that I was adamantly opposed to sitting through this two hour and forty minute movie. I honestly have no use for the Science Fiction genre. When I heard the title, “Avatar” I envisioned yet another “futuristic world where man meets machine” and all that ridiculously far-fetched never gonna happen gobbledeegook (gdg). Now let me say, “Wow, was I wrong”! Avatar will go down in my mind as one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. While the plot is far-fetched and is never going to happen, the message that director James Cramer portrays is one that society is in desperate need of realizing and not the gdg that I originally thought it would be. We cannot continuously take from nature, never giving back and expect to prevail. The indigenous cultures around the world have had it right all along and we are ignorant in our materialistic thoughts and actions. The 3D computer graphics and animation only add to impact of the story as the viewer is taken through fluorescent yet at the same time natural environment of Pandora. This Golden Globe winner for Best Picture (among others) stresses rampantly the importance of the human-nature connection. The fact that Avatar is the top grossing movie of its time is testament enough to the picture’s ground breaking technique and artistry. The fact that it is drawing crowds by the millions and presenting them with this pertinent message is priceless.
The Lovely Bones
Brandy Robertson
I feel it necessary to start this review with the fact that Alice Sebold is my favorite author. Her novel, “The Lovely Bones” is my favorite book. Five years ago when I was studying “The Lovely Bones” in my Intro to English Lit class I heard the rumblings that someone had bought the movie rights to the book. Finally, in 2010 my favorite story has hit the big screen. I went to the theater with low expectations due to the fact that the movie typically falls eons short of doing the book any real justice. While the book was definitely superior, I do have to give props to director Peter Jackson and his crew. “The Lovely Bones” the movie while not nearing the detail and emotional effect of that created by the novel, did a decent job of recreating the story of Susie Salmon, her family, and her murderer. The scenes encompassing the ‘inbetween’ where young Susie exists after her death as she struggles to come to some understanding and acceptance of the events leading to and following her rape and murder are both imaginative and thought-provoking. As humans we are consistently fascinated with the after life - where we go, what we do. I personally felt that Jackson did an above average job with his portrayal of exactly that.
Dont stop believing in Journey
Ian Doherty
Journey is my god. Walking down the late night streets in Winnipeg the song plays on my iPod. Strange that it would find its way on my techno playlist, but I listen anyways and the lyrics course through my veins. Watching the passersby in downtown Winnipeg, I notice that we are all indeed strangers to each other in a weird place. Some of us may never find our place in the world, some of us will never get our share of life’s thrills, but the one thing this song speaks to my soul about is that we are all hidden in the night. I couldn’t help but notice the looks of yearning on the peoples faces, searching for that thing that would make them happiest in the world; but the truth is we are all searching for something different in each other. That woman is looking for a place to sleep, that guy is looking for a place to pee. Incidentally while I was jamming out to Journey the guy looking for a place to pee decided the wall beside me was the best place. So in short, don’t stop believing in what your searching for, Journey tells us. Everybody is searching... if only for a place to pee.
