District 9

So because of school and work I have been very behind on some of the most popular films but last week I finally saw District 9. Everyone I knew said it was excellent and I can see how creative and different it was. I, however, was very disturbed by it. Because it was set in Johannesburg and because it showed a people group forced to live in slums and be tortured and made fun of by the rest of society, I found the film too much to take. I'm a very sensitive person and even though the aliens were creepy looking, I couldn't bear to see them treated so poorly. So many people make fun of others or treat others as outcasts just because they don't know them. If they got to know who they really are, they would realize how alike they really are. I have some friends who are really great people, but certain members of our society treat them like gum that got stuck on their shoe. It's just not right, they are beautiful people in my eyes and more importantly in God's. I however am not innocent. I will periodically turn the other way when I see a homeless person looking at me with those sad puppy eyes. It isn't that I dislike them or that I am afraid. I just feel so much of their pain when I look in their eyes that I feel guilty for not giving them everything I have. I usually don't carry cash on me so I usually have nothing to give them except credit cards and the clothes off my back, but I still feel guilty. Back to District 9, I actually never finished the movie. My friend has encouraged me to finish it which I may or may not do. Maybe when I am having a good day I can handle the end of the movie, we'll see.

Star Wars vs Avatar

So, I saw an MSNBC article today that had me upset. It was titled ‘Avatar’ surpasses ‘Star Wars’ at No. 3 all-time. I haven't actually seen Avatar yet but I know I will eventually. However, I also know that I don't want it surpassing Star Wars. That disturbs me. I have a lot of film student friends and those that have seen Avatar say the 3D effects are amazing but that the story isn't all that wonderful. Also, is this a film that will completely change the way films are made? Maybe in terms of 3D but what about the film business itself? There wasn't a summer blockbuster film until Star Wars created the trend. Star Wars completely changed how studios made films and marketed them. Merchandising as we know it today was formed because of Star Wars. With the ticket prices as high as they are right now, a lot of films are now making the list that if ticket prices were less, would not. Luckily for me (as I am a huge Star Wars fan - I know, big shocker), the article later says that not counting ticket prices, just using number of tickets sold, Star Wars is still way ahead of Avatar. That is the only way films should be judged anyways. Inflation changes ticket prices every year and will continue to do so. Therefore the only scientific way to judge the popularity of a film is how many people went to see it.

Alias and Other Stuff

So first of all, I guess I should explain the title of this blog. I am a huge Alias fan, the TV show by JJ Abrams. So this blog's title is a tribute to Sydney Bristow, spy extraordinaire. In fact, I am such a fan that I am currently writing my master's thesis on female lead protagonists in the spy genre on television compared to their male counterparts throughout the decades starting in the 1970s. I'll let you know how that goes, it is due by the end of March. Since I am on holiday break from school, I am attempting to catch up on some films that I missed that came out this summer and fall that are now on DVD. Right now I am watching GI Joe, which is so far just ok but not great. The gadgets are cool but so far the story leaves something to be desired. Earlier today, I watched The Proposal which was a good film, but also not great as I couldn't buy the relationship between Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. It just didn't seem real to me. Although I like both actors, they didn't have any chemistry together, at least not in this film.

A New Year, A Blog!

Well, it's a new year and I've decided to start a blog and stick to it (we'll see how long that lasts, but right now I am hopeful). I plan on using this blog to express my views on certain things going on in the world and in my life as well as reviews of movies and TV shows (my personal favorite topic of discussion) and anything else I can think to say.