All Consuming : Flash

Why I recommend "Dark Water Rising: Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:56:02 GMT

Dark Water Rising: Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues

Filled with moving rescue stories. Starting four weeks after the evacuation for hurricane Katrina, hundreds of brave and passionate volunteers attempt to rescue the estimated 10,000 to 20,000 animals left behind before they starve to death. A lot of things in this movie were very unpleasant to watch: grisly images of dead and decaying animals, along with gruesome images of dogs injured in dog fights and animals who suffered violence at the hands of humans. But it was a fascinating story. And the good news is that laws have now been passed to ensure that animals are included in FEMA emergency evacuation plans in the future.

A story about "Lust, Caution (Widescreen NC-17 Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:46:39 GMT

Lust, Caution (Widescreen NC-17 Edition)

by Ang Lee

Before I saw this film, someone told me that it was causing quite a stir in China because couples were ending up in the emergency room after attempting the sex acts depicted in the movie.

It was a very well-done film, but it should be noted that 17 minutes of sex were cut from the film to obtain the NC-17 rating. And apparently it’s those 17 minutes, being circulated around the internet, that are inspiring all these attempts at of acrobatic sex.

Provocative premise...

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:51:41 GMT

Pumpkin

by Adam Larson Broder

But it doesn’t live up to its promise

Why I want to consume "Baby Love"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:22:40 GMT

Baby Love

by Rebecca Walker

“On Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence”

I got this to help my partner and I think about the issue of becoming parents, and to address our mixed feelings about it. This was definitely worth a read, but I have to say that while Walker may have been ambivalent about motherhood her whole life, she certainly isn’t now. This narrative does address some stresses and pain and worries of pregnancy and parenthood, but it is very much a rah, rah, babies are the most incredible magical miracle of life kind of book. I didn’t read it with my partner because I knew he was looking for something more even-handed.

Watch this if you like over-the-top MTV Real World-style reality drama

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:18:55 GMT

Sex With Strangers

by Joe Gantz

and you like your feelings really raw. It’s definitely real. Watch it if you want to learn learn “101 things NOT to say to your spouse when he/she is upset.” It seemed to me that the only thing more excruciating than being one of the people in this movie… would be watching this movie.

How "The Lives of Others" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:12:10 GMT

The Lives of Others

This was one of the best movies I’ve seen all year; it works on so many levels, as a thriller and a fascinating character study. I immediately watched it again with the director’s commentary on, and then I liked it even more. I was fascinated by the fact that the actor playing the Stasi officer had actually experienced surveillance as portrayed in the film, during his youth as an actor. Apparently after the wall fell, he read his Stasi file and discovered that many people he thought of as friends, as well as his wife of many years and the mother of his children, were listed as informants against him.

But the thing I have been talking about most, several days later, is the underlying theme of the movie. The director explained that his inspiration for the film came from an anecdote about Lenin. Lenin is quoted as saying that listening to the Appassionata made him want to stroke people’s heads, but he needed to smash their skulls in to accomplish his revolution; so he couldn’t listen to that music any more. The director was amazed at the power art and beauty have over people, and wondered what would happen if someone forced Lenin (or Hitler for that matter) to listen to such music. And this film is what came of that question.

The film really speaks to me about the impact art and beauty can have on the world. Maybe I’m no Mozart or Michaelangelo, but I can create beauty and joy too.

A story about "Running with Scissors: A Memoir"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:12:28 GMT

Running with Scissors: A Memoir

by Augusten Burroughs

As I was reading this, each time I came upon another outrageous scene, I’d ask myself, “wait, is this a true story?” and look at the cover. Yes, the cover says memoir… then something else absolutely unbelievable would happen, and I’d look again. Yep, a memoir. At some point I went online and read the Vanity Fair article about the real life family’s response to the book and movie. (They sued him for defamation of character, but eventually settled for something added to the beginning of the book acknowledging that that’s not the way they remember things.) Also, I understand that Burroughs is also estranged from his mother to this day.

This could have been a light and funny book, and it seemed like that’s what Burroughs was trying to go for. I could see embellishments, places where he might have told himself, “wouldn’t it be funny if it had happened like this instead?” Instead, I felt like I could read between the lines of the book to a kid in a lot of pain, and a family who, while certainly eccentric themselves, reached out to him when he had nowhere else to go. I was much more moved by that tragic and heartbreaking story than by the actual book.

Pictured are the actual sisters, and they’re pissed.

Julia's story is incredible

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:50:01 GMT

The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods

by Julia Hill

Unfortunately I found the book itself to be a little underwhelming.

Offers a respectful inside look at several recreational sex communities

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:02:08 GMT

LIFESTYLE: SWINGING IN AMERICA - LIFESTYLE: SWINGING IN AMERICA

This is documentary makes those in this unconventional lifestyle seem almost… ordinary.

Why I recommend "Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:17:57 GMT

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation

by Eric Zala

After seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, three 12 year old friends, Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb, began filming their own shot-by-shot adaptation of the film; starring, of course, themselves and their friends. Filming took place in the basements and backyards of their Mississippi homes. It took them 7 years and thousands of dollars of allowance money to finish their film. Unlike most low-budget filmmakers who try to set reasonable exectations and cut back on special effects to save money, these three teens were determined to have their film be exactly like the original. The final film includes lots of flames (where on earth was the babysitter?) and a car chase scene in which Indy is dragged underneath and behind a moving vehicle. Since this was before VHS, the teens had to bring an audiotape recorder into the theater and take meticulous notes in order to recreate the film themselves.

The final film is a testament to determination and passion for film. I saw it in Minneapolis recently, and honestly, for the first 10 minutes it was funny to see 12-year-olds in their ill-fitting Sundayschool suits pretending to be businessmen. After that, I laughed and hooted and clapped because Indy got away from the headhunters, not because this film was made by 12-year-olds. At the screening I attended, the film got a standing ovation from the packed house.

For more info:
http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders_adaptation/index.php

A story about "smoothies"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:39:29 GMT

smoothies

Strawberry, banana, coconut lime. Wow! I got a snazzy Vita-Mix blender for my birthday and have been going nuts with the smoothies.

Why I want to consume "My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:56:20 GMT

My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely

by Kate Bornstein

There seems to be so little writing on gender, at least in the mainstream. I had to get this book on Interlibrary Loan, because the Minneapolis library system doesn’t have it.

I just got it yesterday, but it looks funny and interesting.

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "The Historian"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 17:38:38 GMT

The Historian

by Elizabeth Kostova

Well, it’s really long. I am enjoying this academic thriller, but it’s a little bit predictable.

A story about "Flesh And Gold (Lyhhrt Trilogy)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 21:37:55 GMT

Flesh And Gold (Lyhhrt Trilogy)

by Phyllis Gotlieb

Wow, this is the best book I’ve read all year! Granted, I haven’t read that many books this year—but I really enjoyed this one. I was up until almost 2 am this morning finishing it. The dazzling array of alien races, the various worlds, the interplanetary politics, the myriad characters… the first half of this book had my head in a whirl. But the fast-paced edge-of-your-seat action kept me reading the last half in one sitting. I could hardly put it down. Gotlieb’s evocative style creates a very gritty, real world full of surprises.

A story about "A Prairie Home Companion"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:11:27 GMT

A Prairie Home Companion

by Robert Altman

AnthroGal is right, there is zero drama here, but as a Minnesota hometown gal I had to go see it even though I’m not a huge fan of the show. I thought the subject matter lended itself well to an Altman-style film: large ensemble cast, wide shots with lots going on and everyone talking at once, great dialog that’s easy to miss. The actors were well-cast and did a competent job.

At the end I wasn’t sure what Lindsey Lohan’s character was there for. It didn’t seem realistic that so many people could listen to a teenager talking about suicide and just laugh it off, change the subject, etc. Granted, that might be a typical Minnesoton response to an uncomfortable conversation so maybe that’s why it pushed my buttons.

A story about "The Amazing Kreskin - Mental Marvels, Feats and Stunts"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:23:51 GMT

The Amazing Kreskin - Mental Marvels, Feats and Stunts

Of course I knew I was taking a chance when I checked this out on impulse from the library. I thought at best it would be really campy and funny, but in the end it was pretty much unwatchable. The box claimed that by watching this DVD I would learn to levitate things and control people with my mind, which seemed like such an outrageous claim I had to check it out. But although Kreskin claims to have genine psychic powers, all that was revealed were silly parlour tricks.

A story about "Hotel Rwanda"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:09:29 GMT

Hotel Rwanda

by Terry George

If you’re watching this on DVDdo not miss the audio commentary with the director and the actual real-life subject of the film. I learned lots of fascinating details that didn’t actually make it into the film (like the fact that he didn’t actually work for the hotel at the time of the conflict; he had quit his job there years before and gone to work at a different hotel). Also the director talked about which scenes were recreated from actual documentary footage. Amazing.

A story about "The Fifth Sacred Thing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:19:23 GMT

The Fifth Sacred Thing

by Starhawk

Utopia/dystopia. An emotionally powerful story of magic and the hope of nonviolent resistance to armed military occupation. I read it aloud to my sweetie, but at the end I was crying so hard I had to stop and take several breaks.

A story about "Twin Falls Idaho"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Mon, 08 May 2006 22:51:13 GMT

Twin Falls Idaho

A stylish and sensitive story of two conjoined twins (played by two real-life twins, not conjoined, who also wrote and directed this film). I really liked it.

Why I want to consume "Dust My Broom"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Thu, 04 May 2006 23:58:16 GMT

Dust My Broom

by Boozoo Bajou

I heard the first track on this album, “Keep Going,” on the radio and it’s my new favorite song. Sorta creepy southern roots dub/electronica with crazy chirping frogs in the background and a drawling voice giving directions “to the swamp.” Fabulously strange! This is going to be a centerpiece in my Halloween mix from now on.

Why I want to consume "Gathering One"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Flash) — Thu, 04 May 2006 23:54:25 GMT

Gathering One

by Hamsa Lila

I picked this up on a whim at the library today, based solely on the cover art and name. So far I’m loving it!