V for Vendetta
March 18, 2006
I highly highly recommend V for Vendetta. I admit that I was first put off by the mask and everything but trust me, if you liked the Matrix, then you are going to love V for Vendetta. Now I normally don’t post about entertainment matters but this movie has a political undertone that is so brilliantly woven into the script you might end up giving a standing ovation.
Not to mention that as the credits roll up, the first voice you hear is that of Malcolm X. And for fear of giving too much away, I will cite one line out of the movie that I think epitomizes the power of your voice in the blogosphere; “Ideas are bulletproof.” That is all I am going to say about it but please see that movie and if you get a chance, rent Lord of War (with Nicholas Cage) too because like V for Vendetta, it doesn’t apologize for the truth.
Stay up fam,
Brandon
Brokeback Mountain censorship
December 18, 2005
So last night I saw King Kong and I thought it was one of the best big budget movies this year. It felt like more of a summer blockbuster but with all of the crappy movies released this year, I suppose you have to take what you can get. Nevertheless, I really wanted to see Brokeback Mountain, the critically acclaimed movie about two gay cowboys. Unfortunately, it was only showing at one theatre in the entire state of Michigan during the week it was (at least I thought) to be released nation wide. So after seeing King Kong, I asked customer service why they were not showing Brokeback Mountain and the lady informed me that Brokeback Mountain was only released in 69 theatres nation wide, but the movie should be showing sometime in January.
I was furious because I tried to figure out why there were no more theatres willing to show the movie. I first thought of the conservative conspiracy to stifle widespread acceptance of gay people. I then thought of the careful and deliberate marketing campaign of director Ang Lee to slowly let his work seep its way into American theatres. And then I thought about how people conveniently find their religion/morals around the holidays. My point is that it is so funny how people covet the belongings of their neighbor, tell white lies, disrespect their parents (think about how many people you know who dread the thought of taking care of their parents when they are too old to take care of themselves), have extra-marital affairs; and all of these things and more are socially tolerable within the mainstream Christian faith, but once homosexuality comes up, so many people are ready to yell “Crucify him!” Last time I checked, if we assume that homosexuality is indeed a sin and God looks at all sin the same (obviously, capital punishment is a little tricky), what makes homosexuality number one on many conservative’s top ten sin list? And why can people not volunteer their time and money to help the poor but will write manifestos on how homosexuality is destroying American culture? Here’s my advice to all of the people who can’t handle a mainstream gay movie, no one is putting a gun to your head to make you see it. But if you dont’ want to judge people by their particular faults as you may see it, check out the movie because for all the 69s I know Americans are guilty of, Brokeback Mountain should have been released in more than 69 theatres,
Stay up fam,
Brandon
