Richard Lee33 said:On the new one this Friday, around 1:30 PM.
I have to hand it to you for finding that slot.🙄
Paradise and The Song of Sparrows are absolute classics to me, but I’ll probably skip the rest since tracking down those specific titles feels like an impossible mission. Maybe they'll run another series of Iranian films over at Central Park soon. 🙂 I missed the last run entirely.😢
Paul Mendoza8 said:So, it’s happening. My boyfriend is getting married. Well, it happened. I finally tied the knot. 🙂
Did you seriously miss that massive thread about banning spoilers like this? 🙄
😬
There’s something about *The Big Blue* that just hits me right in the gut. I wouldn't go so far as to call it the absolute best cinematic achievement I've ever witnessed, but if we're talking about the films that truly hold a permanent residence in my heart? It's easily up there. 🙂
I caught a performance by The Yes Men here in New York City recently, and 👍 honestly, they're something else. I also sat through Lazarescu—though I’d probably only recommend that one to people looking to spiral into a deep, existential funk. :depra:
Strings felt a little too saccharine for my taste. Sure, it’s predictable, but it plays out like a fairy tale. It’s not like I was sitting there expecting some deep, complex plot or intricate character arcs. Still, if it hits theaters, it’s worth a look.
Almost Brothers was also quite striking. It's yet another gritty look at the darker underbelly of Brazilian society. If you found City of God compelling, this one should be on your radar.
My Summer of Love was really good. It’s essentially a clash of two worlds on two different levels: the upper class versus the lower class, and raw reality versus pure fantasy. The actresses were fantastic, and even the "crazy brother" subplot held its own. PS It was actually voted the audience favorite at the Motovun Film Festival.
Darwin's Nightmare — incredibly powerful. It follows that "socially conscious documentary" vein seen in the works of Moore or Spurlock, but this time focusing on ecological disaster and how the West interacts with developing nations. Definitely check it out, especially if you're into this kind of documentary or if the themes it raises resonate with you.
U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha — I mainly went to see this for the music since I have such a soft spot for Carmen. While the soundtrack didn't disappoint, the movie itself just didn't grab me.
4. Honestly, I’m struggling to find the right words for this one. At times, it was hilariously grotesque, but overall, it just felt exhausting. Between the late screening and being hungry, thirsty, and needing a bathroom break, the whole thing felt endless. Maybe I need to give it a second chance later, but who knows?
I’ve always leaned toward Al Pacino. There’s just something about his ability to undergo these massive transformations 😎 that puts him a step ahead of Robert De Niro. He feels more convincing, more magnetic, and honestly, he’s carried much better films. It’s just how I see it...
Of course, that’s just my two cents...
Oh, and one more thing—he’s got a real soft spot for Shakespeare 😍
I’ve always had a soft spot for that kind of chaotic, fragmented storytelling—you know, something with a real *Pulp Fiction*-like vibe where everything is pieces of a puzzle being slammed together. I realize that might not be the most upbeat comparison, but there's just something about it. 🙄
That whole sequence—you know, that block of scenes starting from their first meeting, moving through the photography session, that striptease, and then circling right back to the bedroom—was honestly pretty brilliant to me. There’s a subtle, clever thread connecting all those moments if you look closely enough. 😍
Actors are just... I don't know, man. It’s hard to take them seriously sometimes. 👍 Aside from that one friend of his—you know, the guy from *Sex and the City* whose name I can't quite pull up right now—but honestly, that's becoming a secondary point anyway... 😁
It’s a real shame we didn't get to catch this one in a theater. There’s just no substitute for that scale; I’m certain it would have hit a whole different level of intensity on the big screen.
In any case, I have to give this one a massive thumbs up to anyone out there who actually lives and breathes cinema. It’s a must-watch. 🙂
analoggardener52 said:Do I need to sit for some specific specialized exam, or am I just looking at the standard general education requirements for a Philosophy major?
That’s all I’m saying. Unless something fundamentally shifts before next year rolls around, that's the reality we're looking at.
analoggardener52 said:Is there any requirement to have a deep, pre-existing knowledge of a specific body of work before diving in?
No.
analoggardener52 said:How much of a headache is it really to pair English studies with Comparative Literature?
I know quite a few people currently pursuing an English degree, and honestly, I haven’t really noticed them struggling under the weight of the workload. It doesn't seem to be the soul-crushing academic grind people often make it out to be. 😁 But let's be honest: they weren't starting from zero. They arrived at university already equipped with a massive head start thanks to those specialized language academies. Let’s be honest: studying languages isn't exactly a walk in the park compared to other majors. It demands a level of discipline that most subjects just don't require. You can't really "cram" your way through a language the night before an exam and expect to actually know anything. It requires showing up to every single lab session and putting in that steady, grinding work all year round. It's less about sudden bursts of genius and more about the daily slog. That being said, if you've got the stamina for the routine, it's not like you're trying to split the atom—it's manageable, provided you don't let the momentum slip. It’s not exactly a high-maintenance combination, to be honest.
analoggardener52 said:I’m honestly feeling pretty frustrated about the possibility of being rejected, so I have to ask: is there any real way to sharpen my edge during this gap year before enrollment? Does anyone know if finding a mentor—or some kind of formal guidance—is actually worth the effort at this stage? 😁
What kind of "mentor" are we talking about here? Give me a break. 😁 I honestly don't know how much specific advice I could actually give you regarding this entrance exam, mostly because I just cruised through mine using my old, outdated methods. It’s really not the kind of thing where you need to be grinding away for months on end. If I were you, I'd head over to the Student Union and pick the brains of the people who just finished their applications; ask them exactly how they tackled their prep.
Well, the Department of Comparative Literature is always packed, but at least you don't need a blue envelope or some uncle working in the Department of Theater and Film Studies to get your foot in the door 😉
If you have any questions about the program, just ask. And for heaven's sake, do some reading 😁
It would be great if you could share which city you're based in and whether you're planning on heading to Washington, D.C. for your studies (even if you don't end up at the American University).
For instance, there’s a film course hosted by the local Film Society; feel free to check out their site if you want to dig into the specifics: I took one of their photography classes once, and they were actually pretty decent.
Then, you have the Department of Comparative Literature over at the university, which houses the Department of Theater and Film Studies. Essentially, you enroll in Comparative Literature and then tailor your schedule by picking more courses focused on cinema. Because of the ongoing academic restructuring under the Bologna Process, there was a proposal that if you complete 50% or more of your credits in film-related subjects, you'd graduate with a degree in Comparative Literature—specifically as a film scholar. I'm just not sure if they've officially implemented that yet. Here is the link if you want to look into it:
And finally, there's always the American University option. 😉
I thought this movie was absolutely beautiful. It’s been a long time since a film hit me this hard (and actually made me cry).
And honestly, I don't quite grasp how some people managed to view this story as some sort of endorsement for euthanizing the disabled. 🙄 Throughout the entire film, he emphasizes that this is his personal choice—his own private desire. He isn't judging anyone else, and he certainly doesn't want to be judged. He simply cannot, and does not want to, continue living. At its core, this is a question of individual liberty and personal agency. Life is a right, not an obligation, right?
The dialogue is masterful. There is this constant tension between his personal agency (him) versus the "way things ought to be" (nearly everyone else). Yet, after two hours of those heavy conversations, there are still people who manage to completely miss the point. Bravo.
The film also touches on so many other themes—love, family, friendship, sacrifice...
I see that for many of you, it felt shallow and pathetic. Well, fine, to each their own...
To wrap things up, here is the song from the end of the film (which is his, by the way):
Into the Wild, Into the Wild And in the weightlessness of the deep where dreams come true two wills unite to fulfill a single wish.
Your gaze and my gaze, like an echo repeating without words: Deeper, deeper Into the great beyond through blood and through bone. But I always wake up, and I always want to be dead. So that my mouth might remain, tangled in your hair.
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Full version:
Into the Wild, Into the Wild, and in the weightlessness of the deep where dreams come true, two wills unite to fulfill a single wish.
A kiss ignites life with lightning and thunder, and in a metamorphosis my body is no longer my own; it is like penetrating the center of the universe:
The most innocent embrace, and the purest of kisses, until we are reduced into one single desire:
Your gaze and my gaze like an echo repeating, without words: deeper, deeper, into the great beyond through blood and through bone.
But I always wake up and I always want to be dead so that my mouth might remain tangled in your hair.
Over a year ago, I picked up a book called eye exercises for good vision. It was published by the New Era library.
If you're curious about anything else, just ask. But don't bother asking if the exercises actually work—I haven't even gotten around to trying them yet, so I'm completely in the dark. 😁
I’m currently dealing with nearsightedness and astigmatism. I’ve been hearing quite a bit about various types of eye exercises for good vision, and I’m planning to dive into a few of them. Once I figure out exactly which routines to follow and get myself into a disciplined habit, I’ll be sure to circle back and let you all know how it goes. 😁
Richard Hernandez13 said:There isn't actually any explicit sex happening—you don't see any penetration during the assault scene. All that visceral discomfort we’re feeling comes straight from the expressions on the characters' faces.
I wasn't even talking about sex. I was talking about violence—specifically murder and sexual assault. In my book, an assault like that doesn't fall under the category of "sex." That paragraph starting with "By the way..." was meant as a broader critique of what you typically see on network TV in general.
Richard Hernandez13 said:because at the end of the day, Gaspar Noé is a brilliant filmmaker who understands that a movie's true power lies in the viewer's own psychological projection (I really hope Mel Gibson takes note of that).
🤣 🤣 🤣
The comparison made in the article is honestly garbage. I didn't catch the segment on the local TV station, but I'm guessing the core issue is twofold: a) it's essentially pornographic content, and b) I assume the "lead actress" wasn't even consulted. On the flip side, Irreversible is, IMHO, a phenomenal piece of cinema featuring two scenes of extreme violence (a murder and a sexual assault). While some might dismiss it as nothing more than cheap provocation, for me, it was much deeper—it forced me to grapple with the nature of violence, the concept of luck versus fate, whether our paths are predetermined, and the sheer volatility of life's highs and lows.
For what it's worth, I don't have an issue with adult content or graphic violence being aired on television. It’s just a matter of timing and making sure there's an appropriate warning beforehand.