Queen of the Harpies

Babel - Crash with a horror movie all in one

Babel. I can't believe all the hype for this rambling movie. To me, it is akin to an 80's horror movie with stupid teenagers making stupid decisions. Without giving any plot spoilers it will be difficult, so instead I will make the comparisons to Slasher flicks from the 80's and even make a comparison to the excellent parody of horror flick - Scream (Wes Craven).

In horror movies, the audience is usually flabberghasted at the fact that a lone girl would go into the house where the serial killer is. We will "scream at the screen" in our frustration at such a stupid move without motive. Why is she going in there? What is to be gained? Why doesn't she just run and run. Film-makers know this is a device to increase tension. The movie "Scream" made a parody of these type of movies - dumb teenagers doing dumb unthinkable things - that even under pressure, stress or panic - we know intrinsically would do the exact opposite of the character on screen. So, I ask this : why is it ok in Babel?

My friend Gus liked this film. Bless his heart, but he just doesn't see the bigger picture here.

Alejandro González Iñárritu directed and wrote this. It is obvious that he needed someone else who was not in love with him to proof this film so they could have put it in the right genre. Horror film.

In any movie when a character commits unthinkably stupid acts - it bring us into a state of disbelief. It brings us out of the experience we are watching and promotes it to unbelievability. Try not to be mad when you hear someone behind you saying aloud - "you're kidding me, right?". Babel is this kind of movie.

Why is Babel an Oscar nominated movie when Slasher flick don't get the nod? For your consideration, Freddy vs Jason, Sleepaway Camp...If Babel wins, we should rethink Friday the 13th, Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street. They all have the same silly premise - people doing stupid things that a normal person wouldn't do.

Canada is so behind in Mobile phone service...

Luckily or unluckily, I have a few friends in the UK and I marvel at how far advanced they are in both pricing and usage of Mobile phones. For example, you can buy TOP UP card in the UK at corner stores. Not only do these top up cards come in a range of prices - $5, $10, 15$ and up, you can use them or not and they will still retain their value. This is very unlike here in Canada where it is "use it or lose it" policy. If you don't use your TOP UP minutes in thirty days, bye-bye - time to fork out more cash. Also in the UK, you can buy phone out of vending machine and at the Tube newpaper shops. It can't get easier than that. This along with the usual 45 minute wait time to get a new mobile phone in Canada or even for someone at BELL at to even answer a simple question begs the simple query - what the heck is taking us so long to catch up?
Well the answer, unfortunately is always simple and the same - money. They make more money gouging us this way, so why switch. For that simple reason, I really try not to use my mobile phone. Why should I line their pockets when my own are threadbare?

One step up, two steps back

I am having one of those blah days. Every time I feel I have a good day that is productive, I have another day where I don't do anything at all and I feel guilty. It is a catholic thing, I am sure. I wish I could complete all of my goals, so when I look back I don't have anything to feel bad about because I am ahead of the game. Motivation for my is at an all time low right now. Might be this cold weather, S.A.D. or the winter blues. You know what I mean?

Exploitation for the last 3 decades - the "Grindhouse" theatre of today

How do you explain how sub-sub-sub par movies like White Chicks, Epic Movie, Kicking & Screaming and Norbit make money - well, by definition they are exploitation movies :

Here's the definition of "exploitation films" from Ephraim Katz's beyond-first-class Film Encyclopedia :

"Films made with little or no attention to quality or artistic merit but with an eye to a quick profit, usually via high-pressure sales and promotion techniques emphasizing some sensational aspect of the product."

Remember, no one sets out to make a bad movie, but it happens. Being an amateur film-maker I can understand when things don't go as planned. But making over $100 million dollars on movies that would have played to grindhouse theatres in the 70's doesn't make sense to me.

For those in the know

Queen of the Harpies comes from a famous cartoon TV show. It was from about 10 years ago when it was truly funny and Conan O'Brien used to write for them. Today alas, it is not so funny.

Fake posts?

I do notice that there are alot of 'so-called' posts on people's sites.. I wonder if this is how they manage to become a blog of note - with fake posts...makes you think.

Picture upload.