Faith by Czesław Miłosz
This poem was dedicated to me by my great friend Gorod.
I really like it.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
A wii exercise
Well, I bought a Wii. I really couldn't resist it after peer pressure and also I found the whole thing let's say a bit ... goofy, which is good.
To convince myself, I kept saying that unlike the PS3 - my more serious game playing machine - this would become my exercise unit at home.
After a couple of issues (bought the Japanese version... stupid me), I did finally get it to work and played a bit of tennis. Today, I finally decided to test the Wii Sports suite to its most and play baseball, bowling and even do some boxing.
30 minutes later I can only say that although I did think I was sort of bullshitting when I tried to convince myself that it would be a good way of exercising... it actually IS a good way of exercising. I'm beat and re-invigorated and it was fun, surprisingly fun. I can do it alone, with friends and 30 minutes a day would not be bad exercise at all.
Anyway, buy a Wii if you want to exercise and are fed-up of trying gyms that you rarely go to.
Well, I bought a Wii. I really couldn't resist it after peer pressure and also I found the whole thing let's say a bit ... goofy, which is good.
To convince myself, I kept saying that unlike the PS3 - my more serious game playing machine - this would become my exercise unit at home.
After a couple of issues (bought the Japanese version... stupid me), I did finally get it to work and played a bit of tennis. Today, I finally decided to test the Wii Sports suite to its most and play baseball, bowling and even do some boxing.
30 minutes later I can only say that although I did think I was sort of bullshitting when I tried to convince myself that it would be a good way of exercising... it actually IS a good way of exercising. I'm beat and re-invigorated and it was fun, surprisingly fun. I can do it alone, with friends and 30 minutes a day would not be bad exercise at all.
Anyway, buy a Wii if you want to exercise and are fed-up of trying gyms that you rarely go to.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Film: Babel
Inarritu does it again: a movie with inter-linked stories that come together in tragic yet meaningful ways.
So what's new?
Not much and that's the problem. Mind you, the movie is beautiful, some of the interpretations like that of the Morrocan peasant and his children are mesmerizing, the Japanese story is really well constructed - exceptional moments like the one in the disco with the deaf-mute girl, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are not bad at all, etc.
So what's wrong?
Well, it doesn't surprise us and take us to the next level of film-watching like Amores Perros. I also don't think it achieves to punch us in the stomach like 21 grams and that's about it. It is a really good movie, with some extremely well crafted interpretations, with a very sound screenplay, but it just fails to innovate. Better yet, it fails to reach the bar that Inarrity has put on himself with his previous movies.
Inarritu does it again: a movie with inter-linked stories that come together in tragic yet meaningful ways.
So what's new?
Not much and that's the problem. Mind you, the movie is beautiful, some of the interpretations like that of the Morrocan peasant and his children are mesmerizing, the Japanese story is really well constructed - exceptional moments like the one in the disco with the deaf-mute girl, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are not bad at all, etc.
So what's wrong?
Well, it doesn't surprise us and take us to the next level of film-watching like Amores Perros. I also don't think it achieves to punch us in the stomach like 21 grams and that's about it. It is a really good movie, with some extremely well crafted interpretations, with a very sound screenplay, but it just fails to innovate. Better yet, it fails to reach the bar that Inarrity has put on himself with his previous movies.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Of love, being faithful and getting someone back in "The Last Kiss"
"I love her, Stephen. I realize now I love her more than I will ever love anybody else"
"Stop talking about love. Every asshole in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing"
"But it's true"
"It still doesn't mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts. And you did do this thing, right?"
He nods and says: "I just saw the rest of my life, and there were no more surprises. This was it. I mean, it was great... But it was it"
"What makes you think this isn't gonna happen again?"
"I know it won't"
"Oh, right"
"Come on! Aren't we supposed to be able to learn from our mistakes? I did something horrible, but I learned from it. I met this little brunette and I faltered. Are you telling me that throughout your entire marriage you never faltered?"
Stephen stays quiet
"You haven't? Never?"
"Never"
"Oh, that makes me feel great"
"You think it's because I wasn't tempted? You think that this woman is the last brunette that's ever gonna let you know that she wants you? Look at me. I haven't met my last brunette"
"She's the last one I'm gonna kiss. I'm in love with your daughter, Stephen. And maybe that doesn't mean anything to you, but I'm standing here. You're her father. I'm looking you in the eyes and I'm telling you, I will do anything in the world to get your daughter back"
"Really? Anything?"
"I'll do anything"
"People say that. They don't mean it"
"But I mean it"
"Well, it's very simple. Just do whatever it takes"
"It's that simple?"
"Yes. You can't fail if you don't give up."
"I love her, Stephen. I realize now I love her more than I will ever love anybody else"
"Stop talking about love. Every asshole in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing"
"But it's true"
"It still doesn't mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts. And you did do this thing, right?"
He nods and says: "I just saw the rest of my life, and there were no more surprises. This was it. I mean, it was great... But it was it"
"What makes you think this isn't gonna happen again?"
"I know it won't"
"Oh, right"
"Come on! Aren't we supposed to be able to learn from our mistakes? I did something horrible, but I learned from it. I met this little brunette and I faltered. Are you telling me that throughout your entire marriage you never faltered?"
Stephen stays quiet
"You haven't? Never?"
"Never"
"Oh, that makes me feel great"
"You think it's because I wasn't tempted? You think that this woman is the last brunette that's ever gonna let you know that she wants you? Look at me. I haven't met my last brunette"
"She's the last one I'm gonna kiss. I'm in love with your daughter, Stephen. And maybe that doesn't mean anything to you, but I'm standing here. You're her father. I'm looking you in the eyes and I'm telling you, I will do anything in the world to get your daughter back"
"Really? Anything?"
"I'll do anything"
"People say that. They don't mean it"
"But I mean it"
"Well, it's very simple. Just do whatever it takes"
"It's that simple?"
"Yes. You can't fail if you don't give up."
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Film: The Queen
What an exquisite film.
First, very well defined story-line and characters that we can all relate to: a superbly tight story that has all the ingredients for a melo-drama/comedy.
Then, the interpretations, but one more than any other: Helen Mirren. What an astonishing performance. An Oscar-worthy one, I would dare say. Or at least one that will be reminded like Jodie Foster in Nell (what a robbery that was), Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry or Million Dollar Baby, Meryl Streep in so many of her movies, the intelectually brilliant Natalie Portman in Beautiful Girls, Leon or Closer, and the little (she was 4 at that time, wasn't she) Victoire Thivisol that interpreted Ponette in such a tremendously professional and exquisite way and that fully deserved the honor she received in Venice.
Watch it. You will enjoy it.
P.S.: I was once just behind Ms. Mirren boarding at LAX into a BA flight to London. I was extremely happy because I noticed she was in seat 60 something which is a sign she was flying Club World in the Upper Deck, which I was as well. I was then interrupted by the boarding agent who told me I had been... bumped to First class. But there was also a star flying in First class: Mr. Eric McCormack, also known as Will in Will & Grace. Those BA LA flights... jet-set I tell you. Jet-set.
What an exquisite film.
First, very well defined story-line and characters that we can all relate to: a superbly tight story that has all the ingredients for a melo-drama/comedy.
Then, the interpretations, but one more than any other: Helen Mirren. What an astonishing performance. An Oscar-worthy one, I would dare say. Or at least one that will be reminded like Jodie Foster in Nell (what a robbery that was), Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry or Million Dollar Baby, Meryl Streep in so many of her movies, the intelectually brilliant Natalie Portman in Beautiful Girls, Leon or Closer, and the little (she was 4 at that time, wasn't she) Victoire Thivisol that interpreted Ponette in such a tremendously professional and exquisite way and that fully deserved the honor she received in Venice.
Watch it. You will enjoy it.
P.S.: I was once just behind Ms. Mirren boarding at LAX into a BA flight to London. I was extremely happy because I noticed she was in seat 60 something which is a sign she was flying Club World in the Upper Deck, which I was as well. I was then interrupted by the boarding agent who told me I had been... bumped to First class. But there was also a star flying in First class: Mr. Eric McCormack, also known as Will in Will & Grace. Those BA LA flights... jet-set I tell you. Jet-set.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Reverent hesitating gestures by Gorod
And he does it again ... My friend Gorod with this exquisite post.
"Looking in each other's eyes is touching"... hummm... now I feel semi-depressed. Don't know quite why though.
And he does it again ... My friend Gorod with this exquisite post.
"Looking in each other's eyes is touching"... hummm... now I feel semi-depressed. Don't know quite why though.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Signs you might be in love or on the verge of
* You say stupid things you weren't meant to say and you aren't even drunk.
* You try and create opportunities to talk / email / text her that are tremendously lame, in fact "Homer" lame.
* You fall a sleep with extreme difficulty and wake up at odd hours and can't go back to sleep again... all this and there isn't any more jet lag to blame.
* You write blog posts on it.
* You say stupid things you weren't meant to say and you aren't even drunk.
* You try and create opportunities to talk / email / text her that are tremendously lame, in fact "Homer" lame.
* You fall a sleep with extreme difficulty and wake up at odd hours and can't go back to sleep again... all this and there isn't any more jet lag to blame.
* You write blog posts on it.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Film: The Good Shepherd
What a movie!
Fantastic cast: Matt Damon at an exceptional level and even Angelina Jolie (not a fan) behaving like a prime actress.
Tone and pace: light, slow. I have to confess I fell asleep yesterday while trying to watch it the first time, but I blame it on my jet lag. It all makes sense.
Direction: de Niro as a Director achieves great heights with this tale of espionage, betrayal and family... yes, it's all about family.
I really liked it. It's toned down and really works as a movie. Watch it!
What a movie!
Fantastic cast: Matt Damon at an exceptional level and even Angelina Jolie (not a fan) behaving like a prime actress.
Tone and pace: light, slow. I have to confess I fell asleep yesterday while trying to watch it the first time, but I blame it on my jet lag. It all makes sense.
Direction: de Niro as a Director achieves great heights with this tale of espionage, betrayal and family... yes, it's all about family.
I really liked it. It's toned down and really works as a movie. Watch it!
Home ... -8 degress of it and of losing weight
Back home, everything - or almost - is white, -8 degress outside... 25 degrees or so inside and the clear notion of a new year with some good resolutions (they are always good aren't they?) and also some resolve to put them in practice.
Losing weight has been the first on the "project plan" and so far so good: strong drive, not feeling overly "lost" in my diet and to compensate for lack of physical exercise outside - no patience for gyms and the winter is definitely harsh around here - I have bought a Wii (ok, ok, you won, but not because it's better than the PS3).
It feels good to be home, although the next flight is just around the corner.
Back home, everything - or almost - is white, -8 degress outside... 25 degrees or so inside and the clear notion of a new year with some good resolutions (they are always good aren't they?) and also some resolve to put them in practice.
Losing weight has been the first on the "project plan" and so far so good: strong drive, not feeling overly "lost" in my diet and to compensate for lack of physical exercise outside - no patience for gyms and the winter is definitely harsh around here - I have bought a Wii (ok, ok, you won, but not because it's better than the PS3).
It feels good to be home, although the next flight is just around the corner.
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