'Who Killed the Electric Car?'

Who Killed the Electric Car?

dvd

2006

An interesting documentary. Didn't get me too fired up which was strange because usually after a 'change the world' documentary I come out of it feeling like I should do something. This left me with a sick sort of feeling, the kind when it's completely out of your control.

It was a well developed and thought through piece of film-making. I enjoyed the rise and then demise of the EV1 car and concluded that I don't see quite to eye to eye on the whole electric car thing any more. There seemed to be a strange sort of logic behind it all, loosening our (Western countries) grip on petrol/oil reliant personal transportation in the hope that it will bring peace to the Middle East, and stop pollution and global warming. Well, burning coal like a total maniac to create electricity is harming the planet just as much as war so I don't see the solution there. It featured a tiny segment on the alternatives for producing electricity (solar/wind) although I would have been sold on the whole idea if this was more developed as part of their argument.

Overall, it was a good look at another fuel alternative for private inner-suburban automobile use although I wanted it to go further and really tackle the bigger issues. How can we source better/cleaner electricity? If (as the doco reports) Americans travel only 29 miles in the day, is there an actual need for a personal car or should resources be put into better public transport? Or even, would the US even give a rats about the environment if they didn't have to pay and bleed for their oil? Ouch.

'Invincible'

'Invincible'

dvd

2006

This was a perfect, feel-good weekend movie. A Walt Disney pictures recount of an NFL football player who rose from the streets of Philadelphia to play as a professional after the team's coach puts out a general invitation to new players in the hope of breaking their losing streak. Mark Wahlberg is not the best actor by far but I think it's all good fun. Worth a look if you want a punch in the air, feel-good emotional rollercoaster with a linear plot.

Wordplay

Wordplay

dvd (2006)

I never thought I'd be on the edge of my seat watching a movie about crossword puzzles. And rocking on the edge of the couch scoffing into a jar of pickled onions I felt like my eccentricity paled in comparison to these fantastically minded wordsmiths. My goodness.

Wordplay is a film about about that aspect of our culture that sits somewhere in the Arts or TV section of the paper, that part of our lives that makes us want to fill in the blanks and nut something out. It's all about crossword puzzles and the interesting people who challenge themselves with them. And not only do they test their own minds but all compete in a championship, held the same time every year since the 70s.

I thought it was a brilliant film. It had me laughing and drawing closer to the endearing qualities of these full-minded individuals. It reminded me of Spellbound, the documentary about children who compete in spelling bees. I felt like the main focus of the film was that no matter who we are or what we do, when we're doing a crossword, we're all the same: bent over a piece of paper trying to fill in the boxes. Fantastic.

'Fidel'

Review

Fidel

DVD [2002]

This was so obviously a tele-movie and I just had to keep giving it my full attention. A 3 hour movie about the rise of the revolution in Cuba under Fidel Castro and the involvement of other factions such as the Communist party, Soviets and the legendary Che Guevara.

I was particularly drawn to this film when I saw Gael Garcia Bernal was involved. He seems to be such an intense actor and I'm coming to appreciate the way he portrays raw characters full of conviction. It was also good to see a bit of the follow on from Motorcycle Diaries (although made in 2004) where we saw him develop his ideals and then they are acted out through the eyes of someone else. I loved it. I'm a sucker for progression.

The fight and speech scenes were a little disappointing, of course being a movie made for TV they skipped on the special effects and relied on stock footage to fill in the gaps. I did like the way it only tried to really dwell on Fidel's life and emphasis was only placed on various moments in time as to how it affected him rather than the nation or the communist/democratic world.

Worth a watch for a snippet into a piece of modern iconography.

'One Giant Leap'

Review

'One Giant Leap - 50 Years of Space Flight'

dvd


It felt so exciting to be watching the shuttle and space station crews floating around in zero gravity. Or being inside the cockpit when the shuttle's fuel ignited and it took off into the atmosphere. There's something about space flight and discovery that I really like and when I was little reading about the previous exploits of Chuck Yeager (speed testing) and the successful rocket missions I couldn't help but think what was out there, where does space fit in with our future?

The second disc of this series was the most enjoyable. There were several shuttle missions which were talked through by the crew as a sort of post-mission briefing, and every delicate technical issue came to light, as well as the endearing humour of these space adventurers. I loved some of the wild experiments they did after their main mission objectives were completed. Like spinning a globule of water in zero gravity and trying to cut it with dental floss. And then touching a tiny blob of orange juice and watch it cruise towards the larger blob of water only to collide and mix in a way that could only be described as psychedelic.

The bravery of these people, for whatever reasons space discovery is still being pursued, has to be admired. I really look forward to going through the Kennedy Space Center and spending as much time there as possible. To infinity, and beyond!

'March of the Penguins'

Review

March of the Penguins
DVD (2005)

This documentary was so well done. I couldn't believe it wasn't CGI is so many bits, and the patience and endurance of even the cameramen should be applauded!

Nature is so harsh and the more it is the more strikingly beautiful it becomes also. It reminded me that the planet is still a place where we don't always dictate the terms, and I'm really very thankful that we don't need anything in those remote parts of Antarctica (not yet anyway) so we just let it be. Watching this reminded me that nature has no welfare system, the rules are dealt with uncompromising force, yet the rewards are monumental.

I was yelling at the screen telling the father penguin to keep their egg on his feet and under his belly fur while the mother was off getting fish. I laughed when I saw the new families playing after the ravages of yet another winter storm. I was relieved to see that us human Borgs hadn't yet overtaken the planet.

It reminded me to that we should weather the storm, rejoice in our triumphs and enjoy life while we have it. An excellent watch.

'Napoleon'

Review

Napoleon
DVD TV mini-series (2002)

"Charles Talleyrand, you're shit. You're shit in a silk stocking."

Napoleon is an epic tragedy, like Macbeth or The Untouchables. It's the downfall of a lovable tyrant, the little general who wanted to spread freedom and liberty to Europe.

The dramatic moments in the film are as deliberate and passionate as the orchestral score, swelling at precisely the right time, lending a humanity to the self-crowned emperor.

Christian Clavier plays a fantastic Napoleon, a surprise for me as I'd only even seen him in comic roles (Les Visiteurs and Asterix and Obelix). He captured the eccentricity and uncompromising attitude that comes with being a world leader, and his slightly crazed crooked smile gives him an endearing quality, in that Clavier way.

It doesn't dwell on the battle scenes yet isn't all court room/banquet scenes either. Portrayed in a favoured light, Napoleon is a great watch. I would highly recommend it. I just love some of the quotes and things he tells people. Nice to watch Malkovich as yet another conniving bastard too. Hehe.