Culture As A Poison

One of the interesting things about living in Hershey is the Hershey Theater.  I have mentioned the Theater in the past, but the interesting thing about it is that so few people in the surrounding area truly appreciate the treasure it is.  So many people will drive past it, never realizing the smorgasbord of experiences that the theater offers.  One week they will have a world-famous Australian Pink Floyd cover band, the next a Tony winning musical, and then, a few times a year, a real treat comes through and the bulk of the area is completely oblivious.

Such an event is happening next week, and my wife and I are lucky enough to have tickets.  The internationally renowned Martha Graham Dance Company is coming through town for a single evening.  And it was ridiculously easy to get fantastic tickets to the performance.

Thinking about that got me thinking about many of the people I know and how little interest they would have in such a thing.  A high culture performance of that calibre would be something that they would readily turn down for an evening watching reality television or the latest sitcom in their own homes.  And, of course, I know many men that would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to such an event.

I guess I just don’t get that.

I don’t truly understand the aversion some people have to exposure to cultural events.  They treat a trip to an art museum or attendance at a Shakespeare festival like it is a dire trauma.  The idea of going to a touring exhibit of King Tut’s treasures or witnessing the beauty of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. is treated like a poisonous proposition.  Anything that falls outside the modern pop culture bubble, and sometimes even a very narrow slice of that, is something they refuse to participate in without cajoling.

But, I truly believe that if this sort of mentality would let go of its prejudices for just a few hours and truly take in the majesty of these cultural forms, perhaps it could be a transformative experience. 

I believe that the human mind is a thirsty vessel waiting to be filled.  We can fill it with whatever we want, but perhaps an occasional sip of the more esoteric parts of human culture can make you appreciate the beauty of things around you that much more.  Perhaps that small sip can give you a deeper vision of the world and people around you.   Perhaps that one small sip will open new doors.

After all, as the commercial taught us, even Mikey likes a little Life, and he hates everything.

Professionalism

Times are tough in this economy.  A huge chunk of the American workforce is either unemployed or underemployed, and thus looking for work.  It makes for stressful times.  It is difficult to even get a foot in the door because there are so many others trying to do it at the same time for the same position.

That’s why I am daily amazed at the growing lack of professionalism that I have witnessed in recent years.

The inability, or unwillingness, to address issues or even write simple e-mails in a thoughtful and professional manner seems to be a growing trend.  Communications are often rife with short, choppy fragments or terse wording that, whether intended or not, comes across as confrontational.

Is it that we have lost the ability to write and speak in a manner that is civil, contextually appropriate, and grammatically sound?  Have we been reduced to speaking and writing in short, often snippy, fragmented bullet points rather than complete sentences with thought behind them?

I understand that in this world getting things done quickly is often more important than being sure that the message being sent is an sppropriately professional one.  However, decorum and the like are not things we should consider lost arts in the era of speed.  And the ability to craft communication, written or spoken, that is free of fragments and implied attitude should not be a victim of the PowePoint era.

Perhaps I am so sensitive because I enjoy the art of writing so much.  But there are moments when I truly wonder what people are thinking when they send some of the mails I receive.

The Vagaries of Snow

As I have talked about in the past, my wife is an avid scrapbooker.  This necessitates certain behaviors like grabbing brochures for attractions we visit in multiple numbers, taking lots of pictures, and keeping notes at the end of each day so we can remember the small details when she scraps the pages.

Once a year she attends an event in Gettysburg, PA where she gathers with many like-minded individuals to spend an entire weekend scrapbooking.  The event is sponsored by the local representatives for a company she buys much of her supplies from, and she always seems to have fun. 

Last year, the event coincided with a pair of concert tickets I had for a show in Atlantic City, so I asked a friend of mine whose wife was also attending the event if he was up for a road trip.  And, thus, somewhere between watching rugby and downing beers at the Tropicana’s Quarter and jamming to Queensryche that evening we decided this would bear repeating.

The weekend in question is this weekend, and the ladies are already ensconced in Gettysburg doing their thing.  Meanwhile, we menfolk are staring down a major storm that is supposed to dump a foot or more of snow on the region starting this afternoon and lasting for a good chunk of the day tomorrow.

Needless to say, this has put a bit of a damper on our plans.

And, as geeks and computer game junkies we will still find a way to while away the weekend even if snowed in, but one has to wonder what exactly we did to incur the wrath of Mother Nature.  We didn’t have anything planned that was even mildly naughty in nature.  We weren’t going looking for trouble.  Heck, we weren’t even going to need a vow of secrecy the equivalent of “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” 

Oh, well, there’s no accounting for the craziness of the weather, I suppose.  But damn if it doesn’t feel like instant karma that I haven’t earned.

Sex, Lies, & the MovieDruid

Hello again, everyone, and welcome back!

Well, we have once again officially entered Oscar season with this week’s announcement of the nominees.  And, as is also tradition, the MovieDruid is dissatisfied with the nominees and has begun is yearly railing against the Academy.  I won’t get myself started again, though, so if you want to hear my rant check out yesterday’s edition of the Jungle Gym.

Instead, let’s concentrate on the here and now and take a look at this week’s releases.

“From Paris With Love”

Trailer

Synopsis: A low-ranking intelligence operative working in the office of the U.S. Ambassador in France takes on more than he bargained for when he partners with a wisecracking, fast-shooting, high-ranking U.S. agent who’s been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack.

MovieDruid’s Comments: Fresh from his success with the thriller “Taken,” director Pierre Morel is coming back with “From Paris With Love.”  And, as should be the case with any film released in February prior to the 14th, this one has something for everyone.  For the guys, we have explosions, car chases, and lots of action.  We get to see Travolta play the hardcase role again that we did so well in “The Taking of Pelham 123″ and “Swordfish” (And before you groan and give me a hard time about “Swordfish,” I know the movie’s plot was a bit of a mess, but it was good solid popcorn fun.)  And so guys, how do you convince your significant others to join you.  Just say these three words to them: Jonathan Rhys Meyers.  These days every reference I hear to the man, particularly in relation to his role on “The Tudors,” is followed by female swooning.  See?  Like I said, something for everyone.

“Dear John” – MovieDruid Pick of the Week

Trailer

Synopsis: ”Dear John” tells story of John Tyree, a young soldier home on leave, and Savannah Curtis, the idealistic college student he falls in love with during her spring vacation. Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John’s increasingly dangerous deployments. While meeting only sporadically, they stay in touch by sending a continuous stream of love letters overseas — correspondence that eventually triggers fateful consequences.

MovieDruid’s Comments: This is definitely the season for romantic movies with Valentine’s Day only a little over a week away.  (That was a reminder for all my male readers, take advantage of it.)  I am not a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, but his novels seem to translate well onto the big screen.  They seem to have just enough romantic sensibilities without become saccharine sweet or sappy.  In other words, unlike the stereotypical “chick-flick” they are actually watchable without having to buy into ridiculousness. As a bonus here, the director, Lasse Hallstrom, directed at least three movies that are among my favorites: “An Unfinished Life,” “The Cider House Rules,” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” .  With him in the director’s chair and young stars who have great potential, I think this may be a solid film for everyone, not just “chicks.”

Academy of Motion Picture Snobbery

Yesterday the high and mighty Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released this year’s Oscar nominations.  And, thus I began my yearly tradition of railing once more against the Academy.

You see, the Academy and I rarely see eye to eye.  You can trace the roots back to such debacles as the 1977 awarding of Best Picture to “Annie Hall” over “Star Wars” or the 1985 win of “Out of Africa” over “The Color Purple.”  But, while these things really irk me, my real problem with the Academy is the snobbery they have shown. 

For example, how long were directors Steven Spielberg Martin Scorsese and overlooked for Best Director Oscars? Two of the most celebrated directors of the modern era had to wait until 1993 (Spielberg for “Schindler’s List”) and 2006 (Scorsese for “The Departed”) to get recognition.  And, don’t get me started on the Academy’s long tradition of overlooking science-fiction and fantasy films which has only recently been broken by such un-ignorable phenomena as “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “Avatar.”

The problems this year are just irritating. 

J.J. Abrams rebooted one of the most classic film franchises in history so successfully that the new franchise almost looks superior to the original in some ways.  He had a cast and crew that created one of the best films of the year from almost every angle.  And yet, “Star Trek” got no nominations in the major categories.  You have to get down to the technical and trade categories to find it mentioned.

The Academy expanded the Best Picture nomination pool from five to ten this year.  One would think that this would mean a greater variety in the genres represented.  But comedies like “The Hangover” were given no access to the top award this year.

Several years ago the Academy felt it necessary to create a “Best Animated Feature” category.  This closed the Best Picture door on such films as “Spirited Away” and “Ratatouille.”  And yet, this year, with the expanded pool, we see “Up” (a film that I feel is one of the more inferior of Pixar’s releases) garnered a Best Picture nod.

It may seem like I am a bit petty, but the Academy Awards have managed to close the door to so many fine films garnering the wider audience nomination brings with their elitist attitude toward the industry and their constant changing of the rules to support their snobbery. 

It just makes me sad that so many deserving individuals are going unrecognized.  The Academy really needs to get its head out of its posterior.

A Final Return To The Island

Today is a landmark day. Tonight marks the season premiere of the sixth and final season of “Lost.”

Now, as I have stated many times, I am not a TV watcher. I have become even less so as the airwaves have been taken over by reality shows and the like. In fact, my wife and I watch so little TV that we are one of the minority of households in America that does not have cable.

The reasons actually go beyond the lack of quality entertainment, though. The networks these days are far too quick to yank a show off the air if it doesn’t take off like a rocket. Thus, my wife and I tend to let a show get through at least one, if not multiple seasons, before we begin to partake via DVD.

“Lost” was one that we discovered in this very manner. We actually came to “Lost” when it’s third season was airing. We consumed the first two seasons ravenously and have been hooked ever since. In fact, during the hiatus since the end of season five we have managed to watch all five seasons yet again on Blu-Ray, finishing up just last week.

We did this because “Lost” is one of the most confounding puzzles we have ever encountered. Every little detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can become a vital clue later on. We combed through every episode, using the knowledge we had gleaned from season five to interpret the happenings in season one.

It made your head hurt sometimes.

That, I think, is why I love this show in a way that I haven’t been addicted to a television show in many, many years. It’s smart. It makes you use your brain, rather than letting you just turn it off. I like my entertainment to be stimulating, even thought-provoking. The more I have to concentrate on a movie or television show in order to get it, the more I enjoy it.

More of the syndrome of being unable to turn my brain off, I suppose.

So I, like millions of others, will be tuning in this evening to fond out what really did happen when Juliet smacked that H-Bomb with a rock and everything went white. And, the season of arguing with friends about the meaning of this clue, that statement, or the other flashback will begin all over again. Let the crazy theories begin flying once again.

See ya on the island.

Life Does Not Have A Point Value

As I’ve said before here I usually do not broach what are controversial topics here at the Jungle Gym.  The reason for this isn’t that I’m wishy-washy, but that I want this to be a place where my readers can come for a break from the world around them, which is already overfull of controversy. 

However, this is one time I need to step up once again. 

I receive regular e-mails from a group who champion a variety of causes involving wildlife and conservation.  They seek for monetary support occasionally, but usually are simply looking for signatures for petitions on issues regarding everything from the habitat of beluga whales to the poisoning od lions in Africa.  

As a matter of full disclosure, I sign pretty much every single one. 

The issues they bring up are usually heartbreaking to me as an animal lover, and are often infuriating.  But the one that came across my mail today has me seeing red on a whole new level.  

The issue is what are termed ”Predator Derbies” which are sponsored by an organization called Sportsmen for Wildlife.  When I read the information the e-mail provided me, I was sick to my stomach, but I decided to check it out myself.  What I found is, quite frankly, disgusting. 

The organizations apparently holds three of these derbies annually.  They are two day events during which hunters go out into the wilds to kill as many predators as they can.  This is, for me, sick enough, but I know that some hunters may see this as simply a hunting season. 

It’s not that simple. 

I tracked down the website for the 2009 Idaho Predator Derby and perused it to be sure that I was not just going off the deep end.  It was when I looked at the “Rules & Regulations” that I was realized what I hoped was mere exaggeration was in fact true.  I think the first two rules of this contest say it all: 

1. All legally harvested coyotes are worth two (2) points; fox and bobcat 

are (2) points each. Wolves are worth (3) points. (see rule #7) 

2. Team with most points wins. Heaviest weight will break all ties. 

Now, I know that some of my readers are hunters, but this is beyond the pale no matter what you’re opinion on hunting.  This is flat out turning killing into a game.  When we start placing point values on life, no matter what sort of life, we are taking a very dangerous step.  The fact that this is happening, that someone actually dreamed this up is incredible to me.

The fact that they have major corporate sponsorship just makes it worse.

Two of the larger outdoors retailers, Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse are corporate sponsors of these events.  I, for one, have decided that my dollars will no longer be going to either of these companies unless they change this policy.  I urge anyone who agrees with me on this matter to do the same.

I would also ask anyone who would also like to see a stop put to these types of events sign the online petition that is being directed to these two companies in an effort to get them to change their sponsorship standards.  The petition can be found by clicking here.  And, please, get the word out to anyone else who cares about wildlife.

As always, I welcome any and all comments, regardless of whether they agree with me or not. So if you think I’m wrong, please, explain to me where my thinking has gone astray.

The Maltese MovieDruid

Hello, everyone, and welcome back.

A light week this week, which may be a good thing.  There has been so much cinematic goodness lately it’s been impossible to keep up.  I still have a fairly full slate of films I want to attend, and a lighter week may buy me a little breathing room. 

As a programming note, I will begin posting MovieDruid Reviews on Wednesdays each week.  If for some reason I miss a week it will usually be because I didn’t make it to the cinema that week, but on those weeks I’ll try to at least throw up a DVD review.

Alright, now that the business is out of the way, on to the fun…

“When In Rome”

Trailer

Synopsis: An ambitious young New Yorker, disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic coins from a fountain of love, inexplicably igniting the passion of those who threw them in: a sausage magnate, a street magician, an adoring painter and a self-admiring model. But, when a charming reporter pursues her with equal zest, how will she know if his love is the real thing?

MovieDruid’s Comments: Anytime a new romantic comedy comes out I eye it with a certain level of suspicion.  Very few films in this genre really bring anything new to the table, and the formulaic nature of them is burden enough.  But, on top of that, they bear the burden of almost immediately being labeled “chick flicks” and dismissed by most males.  My first impressions of this one were that it looked cute enough to be entertaining. But, I worry that the four comic pursuers of our heroine will bring a zaniness to the film that may be out of place.  However, I must say that my biggest reservation for this film is the director, Mark Steven Johnson, who is responsible for foisting upon an unknowing public the horrific big screen adaptations of “Daredevil” and “Ghost Rider.”  I would proceed with caution here.

“Edge of Darkness” -MovieDruid Pick of the Week

Trailer

Synopsis: Thomas Craven is a veteran homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and a single father. When his only child, 24-year-old Emma, is murdered on the steps of his home, everyone assumes that he was the target. But, he soon suspects otherwise, and embarks on a mission to find out about his daughter’s secret life and her murder. His investigation leads him into a dangerous looking-glass world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder — and to CIA operative Darius Jedburgh, who has been sent in to clean up the evidence. Craven’s solitary search for answers about his daughter’s death transforms into an odyssey of emotional discovery and redemption.

MovieDruid’s Comments: I am actually approaching this one with a slight bit of trepidation.  Thrillers of this type have become cookie-cutter affairs in Hollywood in recent years, and this one has a few of the earmarks of that same syndrome.  Add to that the fact that Gibson hasn’t really given us anything of real substance since 2002’s “We Were Soldiers,” and I have worries.  However, hope springs eternal in the soul of the MovieDruid.  I remember Gibson in “Ransom” and “Braveheart,” and am hopeful for a return to form.  The real question here, then, becomes whether a script has been delivered that is a twisted enough plot to keep the tension high and the secrets hidden until the end or do we have another thriller where the good guys might as well wear white and the bad guys shoud be evilly twisting their mustaches?  I hope for the former, but fear we will get the latter.

Hedging Against Disaster, What’s Your Method?

I often listen to talk radio.  And one commercial that is a frequent one on talk radio is for one of several different companies which specialize in precious metal investing.  They often even have the various talk radio personalities themselves talking about how they have diversified their holdings by buying gold.  The claims seem reasonable I suppose.  Gold has seen a steady rise in prices in recent years.  And, as they have said over and over “gold has never been worth zero.”

This is where they lose me.

Maybe its because I’m a child of the cold war, a geek, or an aficionado of the horror genre, but this last claim seems a bit out there.  Gold never worth zero?  Perhaps not in the past, but that may not hold in the future.  You see, these commercials are selling gold as the ultimate hedge against disaster.  The idea being that if everything goes to hell then your gold will still have value that your currency will not.

OK, I get that.  But, and again this may be me, most of the disasters I envision in the modern age that would cause currency to become worthless would do the same to anything like gold.  In the disasters I see its not gold that is the ultimate commodity.  It’s things like food, gasoline, heating oil, and maybe guns and ammunition.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Here he goes calling for a zombie outbreak or similar apocalyptic event.  But, while I don’t think those things are beyond the scope of imagination, something as comparatively mundane as a world economic collapse applies as well.  If international markets experience a total collapse how long do you think the “gold has never been worth zero” truism will hold out?  In those conditions do you think someone with a stockpile of food is going to trade even a loaf of bread for a pile of gold?  I know I wouldn’t.

I know this sounds like I’m a bit of a whack-job nut, some shotgun toting hick sitting on a pile of canned goods and warning IRS agents to get their government asses off my property.  Please understand I am not saying some catastrophe that will devalue everything is right around the corner.  But, I think that the selling od precious metals as a hedge against catastrophe is a bit of a stretch.

Gold is just another form of currency, and if everything starts down the highway to hell I’d rather be riding in the rusty old trailer with a full larder than the gold-plated Cadillac with my tummy-rumbling.

IMAX and Me

I’ve talked in a few posts about the fact that my wife and I choose one or two movies a year to invest in IMAX viewings.  And, for those who have never had the experience, I would certainly recommend catching an IMAX show at some point.  As is obvious from my posts regarding ”Avatar,” I consider IMAX a staple of the true movie watcher’s diet.  A rare treat, but one that is indulged in with a certain regularity.

I have seen many films on IMAX, but my love for the format can be traced to two particular films that cemented my joy in the experience of seeing films on four-story screens.

The first of these was the film that made me a fan of the IMAX experience from what can generally be referred to as an “educational” medium.  There are several of these films put out yearly about everything from space exploration to undersea life to dinosaurs.  In 1988 a film was released that eventually made its way to the IMAX theater at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  In 1990, for my sixteenth birthday, I had seen advertisements for the IMAX film in the newspaper and, for whatever reason, latched onto it.  Thus, when it came to deciding what to do for my birthday that year, it was an easy choice: “Beavers” on IMAX. 

The film was a fascinating look at fascinating creatures and was beautifully shot.  The presentation wowed me to such an extent that I was, from that day forward, looking to see if anything interesting was at IMAX on a regular basis.  I even had a “Beavers” poster hanging on the back of my bedroom door all through high school.  (And, for those who are having dirty thoughts here, shame on you.)

Fast forward many years.  IMAX has begun showing feature films along with their traditional educational content.  One of the first to be released on IMAX is Disney’s “The Lion King.”  The movie has been circulating for several years when my wife and I, feeling like a road trip one weekend happen across in playing at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore.  The magic of one of Disney’s finest films was amplified by the IMAX in such a way that we have now seen everything from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” to “Watchmen” at various IMAX theaters. 

It was these two experiences, two among many since, that truly created my love for the IMAX format.  No other format delivers the fullness of immersion and experience that IMAX does.  And when a film truly utilizes the formats potential, as “Avatar” and many others have, the experience is nothing short of breathtaking.  I would urge all of my readers who have never experienced IMAX, or who have not been to an IMAX theater in years to check it out.

It’s worth the cost of admission.