Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Movies
I figured that finding a movie that changed my life would be much easier than a book, but I found it to be just as difficult. What I did realize is that the movies I enjoy fall into one of two categories. Movies that challenge my outlook on life and the human condition, and movies that remind me of special people or events in my life. Quite frankly, I‘m not comfortable saying that any one movie has “changed my life“, but surely there are movies I can think of that remind me of someone special, or challenge my view of who I really am.
Dirty Dancing came out in 1987, and even though I was only 1 year old at the time, it would eventually become one of my favorites. If you know me at all you would probably be surprised that this movie means so much to me, and I’ll even admit that it branches away from my normal tastes. What makes it one of my favorites though, is how much it reminds me of my father who died when I was 12.
Here’s another odd one that I wouldn’t normally like, but certain circumstances allow it to be true. The Notebook from 2004 was one of the more successful love stories in recent years, and it was no exception for me and my girlfriend at the time. We went to see it in theaters and as you might have assumed she was very excited and I was quite skeptical. I came out of the theater feeling pleasantly surprised which was such a refreshing feeling. To fast forward through a good chunk of my young life, the relationship ended tragically, my heart was broken, and I felt like I had wasted 4 years. The reason I am telling you this is because those specific events that happened have enhanced my “feelings” for this movie more than they could have ever been under normal circumstances. I haven’t watched The Notebook since I broke up with her, and I am not sure I ever will again, but nevertheless it is one of those movies that conjures up more emotion than almost any other.
The last movie I’ll mention is one that lies more within my normal tastes. An independent, sci-fi/horror British film from 2002 called 28 Days Later. The main plot of the story is that a “rage” virus has broken out in London and has seemingly spread throughout Europe. One man awakens from a coma, completely unaware of what has happened and finds himself all alone with no explanation. Filmed with a digital camera, it gives off a “home movie” look that really brings the horror to life. As much as any scary movie can actually scare me, this one would be top of the list.
In closing, movies, along with all other types of art, have a very specific purpose in my opinion. They move us, not physically but mentally and subconsciously. A few years back I was asked to give a definition of the word “art”, and at the time I found it difficult to come up with an answer. Now it is clear to me that art is like a drug that is craved by out multi-layered, complex mind. We are capable of so many specific emotions that we (humans as a whole) can’t help but experiment with them and stimulate them from time to time. I suppose if you looked hard enough, all movies - and all art for that matter - conjure some kind of emotion. But it’s the emotions that I like to “play” with most inside my own mind that determine what I like best. The variables that affect how these pieces of art are interpreted (which emotions are extracted) are what make us such unique organisms.
Dirty Dancing came out in 1987, and even though I was only 1 year old at the time, it would eventually become one of my favorites. If you know me at all you would probably be surprised that this movie means so much to me, and I’ll even admit that it branches away from my normal tastes. What makes it one of my favorites though, is how much it reminds me of my father who died when I was 12.
Here’s another odd one that I wouldn’t normally like, but certain circumstances allow it to be true. The Notebook from 2004 was one of the more successful love stories in recent years, and it was no exception for me and my girlfriend at the time. We went to see it in theaters and as you might have assumed she was very excited and I was quite skeptical. I came out of the theater feeling pleasantly surprised which was such a refreshing feeling. To fast forward through a good chunk of my young life, the relationship ended tragically, my heart was broken, and I felt like I had wasted 4 years. The reason I am telling you this is because those specific events that happened have enhanced my “feelings” for this movie more than they could have ever been under normal circumstances. I haven’t watched The Notebook since I broke up with her, and I am not sure I ever will again, but nevertheless it is one of those movies that conjures up more emotion than almost any other.
The last movie I’ll mention is one that lies more within my normal tastes. An independent, sci-fi/horror British film from 2002 called 28 Days Later. The main plot of the story is that a “rage” virus has broken out in London and has seemingly spread throughout Europe. One man awakens from a coma, completely unaware of what has happened and finds himself all alone with no explanation. Filmed with a digital camera, it gives off a “home movie” look that really brings the horror to life. As much as any scary movie can actually scare me, this one would be top of the list.
In closing, movies, along with all other types of art, have a very specific purpose in my opinion. They move us, not physically but mentally and subconsciously. A few years back I was asked to give a definition of the word “art”, and at the time I found it difficult to come up with an answer. Now it is clear to me that art is like a drug that is craved by out multi-layered, complex mind. We are capable of so many specific emotions that we (humans as a whole) can’t help but experiment with them and stimulate them from time to time. I suppose if you looked hard enough, all movies - and all art for that matter - conjure some kind of emotion. But it’s the emotions that I like to “play” with most inside my own mind that determine what I like best. The variables that affect how these pieces of art are interpreted (which emotions are extracted) are what make us such unique organisms.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Nintendo Taking the Next Step
Reported today in the New York Times, "Nintendo Co Ltd will launch a DS machine that can take pictures and play music, hoping to cement its lead over Sony's PlayStation and encroach into the territory of Apple Inc's iPod and iPhone."
I don't see how this cannot be a good move for Nintendo. The cost will be about 30$ more than the original DS, but assuming that it's features are practical and easy to use, it would be like an iPod with the capacity to play fun and intuitive video games.
I don't see how this cannot be a good move for Nintendo. The cost will be about 30$ more than the original DS, but assuming that it's features are practical and easy to use, it would be like an iPod with the capacity to play fun and intuitive video games.
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