Movie Review: Defiance December 31, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Politics, Religion, Videos.Tags: Movie Review: Defiance
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 Movie Review: Defiance
Alternate Title: The Fabulous Bielski Boys Story: I am my brother’s keeper, and my sister’s, neighbor and friend. This uplifting true story of survival by director Edward Zwick tells a tale of bravery and determination against insurmountable odds. It is refreshing to see a film about WWII where the Jews are not solely helpless victims. This film answers some of those questions about whether any Jews fought back. Yes, they did. In a screenplay by Edward Zwick and Clay Frohman (Source Material – Nechama Tec) we meet the Bielski Brothers in 1941, Belarus. They were ordinary farmers, and it is inferred, smugglers, who rose to extraordinary human heights by spending over three years in the forests evading the Nazi army. They took in everyone they could find, fed them, protected them, taught them how to survive and by the end of their struggle when they left the forest, there were over 1200 of them. The story is heartfelt, well choreographed, if at times, too predictable. While the film is flawed, the underlying idea of triumph over adversity will lift your spirits and worth your time.
Watch this video about Jewish Partisans. During World War II, 20,000-30,000 Jewish resistance fighters — partisans – escaped ghettos and fought against the Germans and their collaborators. Acting: I would follow Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski into any forest anytime, anywhere. Daniel Craig is on my top five list and can do no wrong. Liev Schreiber as Zus Bielski has a good meaty part as the conflicted brother.Jamie Bell as Asael Bielski is growing up to be a fine actor. Little Aron Bielski, played by George Mackay was sweet. The fine supporting cast was stellar al around. Trivia: Director Ed Zwick went to Harvard and has directed 4 actors in Oscar nominated roles; Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, and Denzel Washington. Denzel won his Oscar. Daniel Craig has also played a Jew in Munich and Fateless. Jamie Bell was chosen out of 2000 boys to play “Billy Elliot.” Liev Schreiber grew up in Lower East Side New York. Graduated from Friends Seminary High School in Manhattan. He attended London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Hampshire College and graduated from Yale. Predilection: I like Daniel Craig Critters: Lots of livestock and a horse and a dog that become part of the ‘food’ category below. Food: The above horse and dog, potatoes, potatoes and more potatoes. Sex Spectrum: Sex is supposed to be forbidden because they did not want any babies – but guess what? Sex happens. Soundtrack: Soaring Opening Titles: A grainy, file footage background showing you the location, date and events leading up to the story. Be sure to stick around to see the ‘what happened to them’ photos before the credits. Visual Art: There are some beautiful photo essays of the woods. Sadly the nightmares that took place in these woods ruins all that beauty. Theater Audience: Saw it in the Ziegfield Theater on opening day, first show. It had many people but the theater is so big it looked empty. Weather: Winters in Belarus are tough. Brrrrrr. FYI – my family left that area and came to the US many years ago. Drift Factor: It definitely needed some editing. Predictability Level: I was not sure how those fabulous brothers were going to be at the end of the film. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: No – although the music was beautiful. Big Screen or Rental: Big screen. For some other films by director Ed Zwick you can rent: Blood Diamond, The Siege, The Last Samurai, I am Sam, Legends of the Fall, Leaving Normal, Courage Under Fire, Glory and About Last Night. Length: A bit overt two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
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End Shots December 31, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Bob Herbert, Malaysian Flying foxes, top 10 lists, Zoo photos
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With just 20 days to go in the administration of thugs it is time to wrap up with some end or parting shots.
Bob Herbert of the NYTimes is a wonderful thinker and writer. Yesterday’s column had me shouting aloud in agreement.”When Mr. Bush officially takes his leave in three weeks (in reality, he checked out long ago), most Americans will be content to sigh good riddance. I disagree. I don’t think he should be allowed to slip quietly out of town. There should be a great hue and cry — a loud, collective angry howl, demonstrations with signs and bullhorns and fiery speeches — over the damage he’s done to this country. This is the man who gave us the war in Iraq and Guantánamo and torture and rendition; who turned the Clinton economy and the budget surplus into fool’s gold; who dithered while New Orleans drowned; who trampled our civil liberties at home and ruined our reputation abroad; who let Dick Cheney run hog wild and thought Brownie was doing a heckuva job.”
- Check out some fabulous photos from 2008 in three parts:
Part 1-
Part 2 -
Part 3 –
- Here’s a funny top 10 list for you. It is called The Top 10 Worst Top 10 Lists of 2008.
- Narrowing down the Bush administration’s various debacles to a mere 10 was no easy feat. Here are the top 10 according to Brad Reed of AlterNet with some runner’s up. The 10 Most Awesomely Bad Moments of the Bush Presidency
10: Bush Gets Re-elected
9: Alberto Gonzales’ Congressional Testimony
8: North Korea Conducts a Nuclear Test
7: Colin Powell’s Bogus WMD Presentation at the U.N.
6: The Terri Schiavo Affair
5: Bush and Condi’s Excellent Gaza Adventure
4: “Brownie, You’re Doing a Heckuva Job”
3: Abu Ghraib
2: 9/11
1: “Mission Accomplished”
- The Village Voice’s Top 10 Right-blogger Stories of 2008 including, #10: Fred Thompson, The Natural, #9: The Cheapskate’s Guide to Civil Disobedience. #8: The Hoover Boom. #7: And Robin is Tony Blair. #6: The War on Starbucks. #5: Rightwing Hillary Love. #4: Michelle Obama: The Lost Sessions. #3: A Megan McArdle Christmas. #2: A Late Defense of Richard Nixon. #1: Obama the Savage Messiah.
- Watch my most popular video of 2008. It has over 8,000 views. Like a Bat out of hell…
Movie Review: Waltz with Bashir December 30, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography, Politics, Religion, Videos.Tags: Movie Review: Waltz with Bashir
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 Movie Review: Waltz with Bashir
Alternate Title: Persistence of Memory Story: Director and writer Ari Folman may have invented a new form of filmmaking. His compelling animated movie is actually a documentary about the Sabra and Shatila massacre in September of 1982. The Lebanese Christian Phalangist militiamen entered two Palestinian refugee camps with the permission of the Israeli Defense Forces. The militiamen then massacred the civilians inside. It was argued that the Israelis should have known that a massacre could occur, considering the assassination of Phalangist leader and prospective president Bashir Gemayel two days before, and given the long history of bad blood between the Palestinians and the Phalangists. Director Folman cannot remember what happened in 1982 while he served at these battles and his dreams are haunting him. The film recreates vividly the nightmares, the actual battles and interviews some of the men he fought with 25 years ago. This anti-war film covers serious questions about guilt, misery, poverty, violence and responsibility. This memory piece will stir you and leave you exhausted. The ending is stunning.
Here’s Ari Folman discussing his film:
Trivia: Waltz With Bashir, was accomplished by just eight animators and four illustrators, with David Polonsky doing 80% of the designs. Since its enthusiastic reception at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Waltz With Bashir has landed on many top 10 lists and won several accolades, including six awards from the Israeli Film Academy, one being best picture; foreign-language film at the British Independent Film Awards and animated film from the Los Angeles Film Critics’ Assn. It’s also nominated for a Golden Globe for foreign-language film. Predilection: None Critters: There are 26 very angry frightening dogs that repeatedly appear in someone’s nightmares. For those that like to knowing advance, one of these dogs is shot. There is also a horrifying scene with dying Arabian horses. Keep in mind, this is all animated, but very real. Sex Spectrum: No sex, but there is animated frontal nudity. Soundtrack: An amazing eclectic mix. Opening Titles: The abovementioned 26 dogs appear to be chasing us. Very scary. Visual Art: Beautiful animation. Theater Audience: Five other people Squirm Scale: War is very squirmy. Drift Factor: I did not drift at all. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Perhaps. Big Screen or Rental: Big screen Length: 90 minutes LOBO HOWLS: 8
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21 Days to Go – meanwhile December 30, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Dogs and cats, Links, Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Israel/Gaza, political upsets, SPCA
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There is a lot going on out there and we seem to have no leadership. Perhaps with all of the damage that the Bushies have done over the past eight years it is just as well that we are leaderless. 21, count ‘em – 21 days to go. Did you ever think it would happen?
- According to Politico.com these are the Top 10 political upsets of 2008.
Mike Huckabee (Iowa Republican caucus).
Hillary Clinton (New Hampshire Democratic primary)
John McCain (South Carolina Republican primary)
Bill Foster vs. Jim Oberweis (Illinois 14th District)
Tom Perriello vs. Rep. Virgil Goode (Virginia 5th District)
Rep. Don Young vs. Ethan Berkowitz (Alaska at Large) who met with defeat.
Kay Hagan vs. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina Senate)
Barack Obama (Indiana presidential election)rcent to Bush in 2004—and Bush had won 60 percent in the 2nd District.
“Joseph” Cao vs. Rep. William Jefferson (Louisiana 2nd District)
- For those that are scratching your heads as to what is now happening in Israel/Gaza, here is a history 101 by Rachel Maddow:
- Politico also has a list of the Top 10 people they will miss in 2009 (I will not miss a lot of these jerks – however, Politico says “We’ll miss their unpredictability, their tell-it-like-it-is TV appearances, or their predilection for conflict and controversy. A few of them are political throwbacks, the likes of which may never be seen again in Washington.”)
Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.)
Carly Fiorina
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
When Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.)
Vice President-elect Joe Biden
Vice President Dick Cheney
Alan Colmes
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)
Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.)
Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.)
- For those that want more about the Middle East, here is Richard Engel explaining more with Rachel:
- I am sure you have seen this teary commercial. Sarah McLachlan’s SPCA Commercial (this is the newer version) helped raise over $30 million. “Sarah made it possible to do in two minutes what took 30 minutes before,” said Jo Sullivan, a communications vice-president with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) How about sending this video over to the Obama household.
Movie Review: Revolutionary Road December 29, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: Movie Review: Revolutionary Road
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| Movie Review: Revolutionary Road
Alternate Title: Rocky Road Story: I loved this movie. I loved everything about it. I loved the acting, the lighting, the direction, the nuance, the sets, the music and the classical tale of lost hopes and dreams. No one does suburban angst and the rot under the white picket fence better than director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) with a screenplay by Justin Haythe, based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates. Frank and April Wheeler thought life would be different. It is sometime in the 1950’s, when divorce was rare, and the young Wheelers find themselves after two kids and seven years of marriage stuck in the suburbs. They are angry at themselves, each other and anything else that comes their way. What happened to their dreams? Their marriage. like so many others, turns out to be filled with compromise, hopelessness, dead ends and boredom. They have come to that moment when they realize that ‘this is it’. That’s all she wrote. So they decide to pack it all in and move to Paris. To dream the impossible dream. What happens to their marriage, their dreams, their flawed lives is the essence of their story. It would have been wonderful to have had ‘we will always have Paris’ as my alternate title in this powerful film.
Acting: Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect s Frank Wheeler. He is young, flawed and intense. Kate Winslet can do no wrong in my book. Brava to her. Kathy Bates is always the consummate actor. Michael Shannon as the imbalanced neighbor almost steals the show. Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour and Zoe Kazan round out the ensemble cast. Trivia: Director Sam Mendes won the Oscar for Best Director in 200 for American Beauty and is married to Kate Winslet. Kate Winslet has very large feet and wears size 11 shoes. She is the youngest actress ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards (for Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Titanic (1997)) (Aged 20 and 22 respectively). [1998]. She holds a unique position in Academy Awards history: Only twice have two actresses been nominated for playing the same character in the same film. The first two were Gloria Stuart and Kate in Titanic (1997). The second two were Judi Dench and Kate in Iris (2001/I). When Leonardo DiCaprio was five years old, he was in an educational TV program, called “Romper Room” (1953) and was nearly kicked off for uncontrollable behavior. He was offered the role of the porn star Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights (1997) at around the same time as he was offered his role in Titanic (1997). The Dirk Diggler role eventually went to Mark Wahlberg. Predilection: None – well, that is not true. I like Sam Mendes, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Critters: A little lap beagle Food: Egg salad has a big role as do scrambled eggs. Also noted was corned beef sandwiches, pie and lots of meat and potatoes. Sex Spectrum: There is sex but no body parts – unusual in a film with Kate Winslet. Blatant Product Placement: Every liquor label imaginable. Soundtrack: Exceptional track by long time collaborator Thomas Newman Opening Titles: A long introductory sequence before just the title is shown. All credits at end of film. Visual Art: Detail was perfect by cinematographer Roger Deakins. He managed to make us feel claustrophobic even out of doors. Theater Audience: My secret balcony is not secret anymore. Sigh. Weather: The season of their discontent takes place over one summer in Connecticut. Sappy Factor: 0 Drift Factor: I was riveted throughout. Predictability Level: I figured out what was going to happen about half way through the film but it did not spoil anything for me. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Yes. Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. How about renting the amazing American Beauty if you have not seen that gem. Length: Two hours LOBO HOWLS: 9
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Lists, shmists December 29, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, wildlife.Tags: dave barry, golden duke award nominees, political scoops
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The year is winding down and still the lists keep coming. Yes, this is not an ordinary year. Chaos abounds and just because the calendar marks the end of the year does not mean we start with a clean slate on Thursday. Hang on – it is going to be a very bumpy ride. Here’s politico.com’s list of the top 10 political scoops of the year. I am not sure I agree with this list but I like lists so here are some of them. Click on the link for the juicy details.
1. Couric and Palin (CBS News): Charlie Gibson scored the first Sarah Palin interview.
2. McCain’s houses (Politico).
3. Obama on “bitter” small-town Americans (Huffington Post)..
4. Palin’s shopping spree (Politico).
5. Clinton camp turmoil (Washington Post and The Atlantic).
6. Jeremiah Wright tapes (ABC News).
7. Network TV’s military analysts (New York Times).
8. McCain’s inner circle (New York Times Magazine.
9. Edwards’ extramarital affair (National Enquirer).
10. Powell’s endorsement (NBC).
- Watch The Golden Duke Award Nominees – winners announced on December 31st.
- Dave Barry’s Year in Review - read the entire review here.
- O.J. actually got convicted of something.
- Gasoline hit $4 a gallon — and those were the good times.
- On several occasions, “Saturday Night Live” was funny.
- There were a few days there in October when you could not completely rule out the possibility that the next Treasury secretary would be Joe the Plumber.
- Finally, and most weirdly, for the first time in history, the voters elected a president who — despite the skeptics who said such a thing would never happen in the United States — was neither a Bush nor a Clinton.
- The year in review:
Movie Review: Marley & Me December 27, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, Photography.Tags: Movie Review: Marley & Me
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| Movie Review: Marley & Me
Alternate Title: Let this Sleeping Dog (Movie) Lie Story: This is one of those annoying movies that has been marketed one way but when you go to see the film, it is something else instead. And it pissed me off. I say ‘bait and switch’ is what those guys at 20th Century Fox did. I thought I was going to see an adaptation of the book Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, by John Grogan, but instead got a typical Lifetime movie about two overly attractive people with nothing to complain about – and yet they do (for over two hours). It was directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and written by Scott Frank and Don Roos. Doggone it, what remains of the book, which is really about Marley the dog, are snippets of Marley (using 22 dogs) growing from puppy hood to old age chewing his way through everything in sight. Marley, while loved, is nothing more than another piece of furniture in this self-indulgent couple’s lives. Forget about the obvious plot holes like the Grogans never age, never gain weight, are always tan (even when they lived in Michigan) just occasionally get annoyed at one another and then make up and produce another child. So what was good about the film? I love dogs and can watch them all of the time. So dog lovers will have something to smile about every now and then. Pretty people are nice to watch, but after awhile, I prefer to look at the dogs. Does it have appeal and will it make money? Absolutely it will. I just do not like being snookered.
Here’s the real John Grogan talking about Marley:
Acting: Owen Wilson as John Grogan looked like he was medicated for most of the film. His inflection does not waver. But he has great hair. Jennifer Aniston as Jenny Grogan, always looks good and she has great hair too. Eric Dane as non believable friend Sebastian Tunney also had nice hair.Alan Arkin as editor Arnie Klein does not need nice hair because he can act and Kathleen Turner the cameo dog trainer just looked frightening. Trivia: John Grogan has been a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist for newspapers in Michigan and Florida before becoming the editor in chief of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. He was a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He lives with his wife Jenny and their three children in rural eastern Pennsylvania. Grogan’s dog Marley appeared in the movie The Last Home Run when he was on film for less than 2 minutes when a van pulls up to a curb and a girl steps out and a boy steps out with Marley. Dog trainer, Larry Madrid, said it took 22 Labs of various sizes and temperaments to film Marley & Me, which was shot in Miami and South Florida last winter. Madrid, who handled hawks for 3:10 to Yuma, crows for Charlotte’s Web and everything but roaches in Enchanted, said he had it pretty easy for this shoot. Predilection: I was not going to see this film, but was persuaded to see it by a friend (we are still friends). Critters: Oodles of poodles, loads of dogs, dogs, and more dogs. Sex Spectrum: Lots of sex, but no spark. Blatant Product Placement: Dos Equus Visual Art: Pretty people living in pretty houses with pretty things. Theater Audience: The friend who cajoled me into seeing this film was visiting from California. She was pissed when the theater where Marley was playing had a screen that she said was smaller than her TV in her living room. She never got over that annoyance and was angry and hated the film for many reasons through to the end. The theater was packed, and filled with every kind of person from big burly guys, couples, groups of friends but no kids. This was a 4PM showing on a Friday afternoon. This is not a movie for kids, by the way. Weather: The weather in Florida was perfectly sunny unless there were thunderstorms to scare Marley. Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: I looked at my watch a lot. Predictability Level: I reads the book – no surprises. Tissue Usage: We sobbed at the Marley death scene. It went on way too long and seemed to have not been edited so that Owen Wilson could have a big dramatic scene. Dog poop, I say. Oscar Worthy: No Big Screen or Rental: Neither. Why not read the book? Length: This film was over two hours. In dog years that is way too long. LOBO HOWLS: 5
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Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button December 26, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Ota Benga, pygmy Bronx Zoo
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| Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Alternate Title: Tempus Fugit Story: It is rare when a movie can make me both think and feel but The Curious Case of Benjamin Button directed by David Fincher did just that. How a man lives his life in reverse by being born old and aging backwards towards infancy is the premise of this film. Written by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) and based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald we get a unique entertaining cinematic experience. How often have you said ‘if I only knew then what I know now…’ is part of the surprise of this magical film. Here is an old man who has the wonder of a child and as he ages towards youth, has the wisdom of old age. His life, his loves, his losses are seen in vignettes tied together in the reading of his diary. Everything worked in this film. Claudio Miranda, director of photography gave us sumptuous visual treats, and the production values were top notch. The spectacle of CSI is something I do not want to fully understand – I just want to sit back and be entertained by the end product. The film develops at a slow pace but if you have patience you will leave the theater a little better for watching. The reading of Button’s diary happens as Hurricane Katrina bares down on New Orleans. I could not help but think, a storm is coming – carpe diem.
Acting: It was difficult to wait until Brad Pitt actually aged backwards to become the public face that we know and love and when he did – you could hear an audible sigh from the audience. Both men and women sigh when they see Brad Pitt. He was terrific in this role, regardless of his age. Sigh. Cate Blanchett as Daisy was ravishing. She is an amazing actor, can do no wrong and can play any part. Taraji P. Henson as Queenie was priceless. Kudos to her. Julia Ormond as daughter Caroline was underutilized but is interesting to watch. The ensemble cast were all terrific including Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, Tilda Swinton and Jared Harris. Trivia: Director David Fincher has been close friends with Brad Pitt ever since working together on Se7en (1995). While growing up in Marin County, one of his neighbors was George Lucas. He later worked on the special effects crew of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi by Lucas. After completing work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the role of Galadriel, Cate Blanchett kept and bronzed her elf ear prosthetics. Four of her five Oscar nominations are for playing real people (Queen Elizabeth I, Katharine Hepburn and Bob Dylan). Julia Ormond starred in three consecutive films in which she is caught between two or more men: Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas in Legends of the Fall (1994); Sean Connery and Richard Gere in First Knight (1995); and Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear in Sabrina (1995). The Congolese pygmy, Ota Benga, featured in the film, is a true story. He was a resident in the monkey house at the Bronx Zoo in 1906. For more details on this story go here. Predilection: I like Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt. Critters: A hummingbird, a mouse and a long lived dog. Sex Spectrum: Sex plays a role in the film but always done tastefully with rarely a body part displayed. Soundtrack: A lot of piano tinkling throughout the film. Opening Titles: None. All credits are at the end. There is an interesting opening segment about understanding time. Visual Art: Splendid production values throughout. The flavor of the decades were marvelous. There was even a flashing moment when my famous corner of the world, the Flatiron building, was shown during the first half of the 20th century and they got it right. My apartment building was not shown but the building that was at this spot, before it burned down in 1968 was shown instead. Theater Audience: A packed Christmas day crowd. But so silent you could hear a pin drop. When the few laughs were expected, they all came as one. Weather: All kinds of weather is shown. Even the impending Hurricane Katrina. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: Anything with the word ‘curious’ in the title demands at least a 1 for a quirky factor. Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: It could have been edited down by at least 20 minutes. That might cause some people to drift. I did not drift at all. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: I wept like a baby even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. Oscar Worthy: Yes Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Length: Overly long at 2 hours and 47 minutes. Bladder alarm. LOBO HOWLS: 9
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Lobo’s 2nd Annual: What’s a Jew to do on Christmas Day? December 25, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Blogroll, Dogs and cats, Jewish Stuff, Photography, Religion, Videos, Zoos, wildlife.Tags: Hanukkah, Holy Night, Jewish song writers, Klezmer, Lobo's 2nd Annual: What's a Jew to do on Christmas Day? Tatiana, Newyorkology, Oy, San Francisco Zoo, Steve Bass
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Those of us who are not celebrating Christmas have a lot in common. What do we have in common? We are outnumbered (don’t get paranoid) in the US (but not in the world) and lots of things are closed today. Is that enough? The chart below shows how that religious pie in sliced in the US. Here is another graph from the Pew folks.
Last year I gave you some ideas as to what you could do on this day. To repeat (because Jews like to repeat), here are some alternate ideas for you. I usually do not recommend going to the movies on this day because it is filled with everyone else who has nothing to do including those who believe in Islam, Shinto, Taoism, Church of Scientology, The New Age Movement, Wiccans, Divine Light Mission, Hare Krishna Movement, Transcendental Meditation, Festivus celebrators, The Unification Church, Buddism, Falun Gong, Jainism, Hinduism, Parsis (Zoroastrianism), Sikhism and Sai Baba. However, I am breaking my own rule and will be going to see The Curious case of Benjamin Button at noon. It could be a big mistake. We shall see.
Last year my sister and I are took the hour long ride on the D train and visited our 94 year old Aunt who lived in a Sephardic Home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. We brought her our usual welcomed gift of two Kit Kat bars, updates on family, photos, news of the outside world, etc. Christmas day was just another day at the Sephardic home so it seemed like a good place to visit and a nice thing to do. Sadly, at 95, Aunt Katie passed away last October so we will be missing her on all days won’t be taking that long train ride anytime soon. Rest in peace, Aunt Katie. By the way, I put a Kit Kat Bar in her casket for that long, hopefully sweet trip to the other side.
- Here is a short list of things you can do today other than go to a movie or visit someone in a nursing home. You can take a walk, go to a zoo (but you will not be able to go to the San Francisco Zoo this year*) or aquarium, call your Jewish friends (most likely they’re home too), read a book, bake a cake, fill in those important dates in your new 2009 calendar, look ahead for when the High Holy Days fall this year (I have already done that), plan a trip (am doing that now), clean up your messy desktop and burn some CD’s, plan an Inauguration Party, clean out a closet, read those e-mails you have been saving and before you know it, the day is over and tomorrow we are back to normal. NewYorkology has a fine list of things that are open in NYC today.
*The San Francisco Zoo will not be opening this year on Christmas. If you recall it was last Christmas that Tatiana the tiger escaped her exhibit and killed one young man and mauled two others. For an update on that story read more here.
- Oy, Holy NIght:
- TechBite’s columnist Steve Bass has some great time wasters for you today (Extreme snowboarding, mind-numbing puzzles, sing-along with Elvis, and a bunch more ways for you to kill some time.). Steve writes weekly commentary on the technology products he loves, the strategies for getting the most out of them, and the gotchas that can cause computing misery. Check out the holiday issue and sign up for his newsletter.
- A Chanukah (Hanukah) Christmas Carol:
- The following super popular Christmas time songs were all written by Jewish composers. Go figure?
1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) was written in 1945 by Mel Tormé and Robert “Bob” Wells
2. White Christmas by Irving Berlin
3. Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! was written by the songwriting team of Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.
4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Holly Jolly Christmas by songwriter, Johnny Marks.
5. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Jewish composer, George Wyle.
6. l’ll Be Home For Christmas by Walter Kent, who wrote the music, and Buck Ram, who co-wrote the lyrics with Kim Gannon.
7. Silver Bells was written by Jay Livingston, who wrote the music, and Ray Evans, who wrote the lyrics.
8. Santa Baby was mostly written by Joan Ellen Javits (born 1928).
- Chinese Food for Christmas:
- A new animal video for the season:
- And finally, Return to the great Jewish themes of outsider-ness & redemption with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”— in Yiddish! The greatest klezmer Christmas song ever! A Yiddish “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” performed by San Francisco’s Kugelplex. :
Movie Review: Let the Right One In December 24, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography, Videos.Tags: Movie Review: Let the Right One In, vampires
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 Movie Review: Let the Right One In
Alternate Title: Stockholm Syndrome Story: Nobody’s perfect. And when you are a fragile, lonely, bullied, 12-year-old boy and you meet someone, who yes, is odd, but wants to be your friend – well – a bond is made. Tenderly directed by Tomas Alfredson and written (in Swedish, with English subtitles) by John Ajvide Lindqvist, based on his novel of the same name, we get an usual coming of age(less) horror story about friendship, loyalty and vampires. The two young misfits form an unusual friendship that will touch you. Yes, there are some nightmarish scenes involving gruesome acts in order for our 12 year old vampire to get blood but most of the scenes are shot in the stark icy cold of Stockholm and become visually arresting through the horror. There are the usual vampire rules involving darkness, amazing physical feats and the need for blood. But we also get some new stuff about spontaneous combustion, what happens when a vampire is not invited into one’s house and a very cool scene involving cats (did you know they do not like vampires?) It makes sense that vampires would like Sweden. They have very long winter nights. This film is not your usual bloodsucker. It has beautiful cinematography, believable young actors and a story line that sticks with you long after you leave the theater. It was a bloody good ride.
And just for the fun of it. Here is that famous last line from Some Like it Hot: Acting: Kare Hedebrant as young, bullied Oskar was pitch perfect. Lina Leandersson as the young vampire Eli is definitely a vampire – she was that good. Trivia: The title of the film is taken from a song by Morrissey. Predilection: I like vampire movies. Critters: Lots and lots of cats. Food: Is blood a food? Sex Spectrum: No sex – just cuddling. Soundtrack: Eerie and scary. Opening Titles: White type over black background. It was in Swedish so I did not pay much attention. Visual Art: Brrr – it looked very cold. Theater Audience: Five other frightened patrons. Weather: Winter in Stockholm is cold, dark and snowy. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: A kid as a vampire has to have a meter of at least 1. Squirm Scale: If you are a vampire aficionado you will not find this squirmy. Drift Factor: There were many snow drifts but I did not drift at all. Predictability Level: I was not sure where this film would go so I was surprised. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Could be a contender for Foreign Film. Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Length: Two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 8
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