WOS Review of 2008

Wisdom of the Sages
Review of 2008

Hello People of the World;

I was so hoping to have this out on January 1, but as you can tell by the time stamp, missed it by that much. To be honest I have not seen many of the more dramatic films, the "award" films, because I am at the mercy of my beautiful now-10-year-old. Also, after I saw one particular movie, I felt my interest in other films wane. Besides, 2008 was not one of the best years of my life, so I did not get the chance to get out to see the more "important" films. Also, there were some movies that I just did not care to see. Now, there is no specific criteria other than that I have seen these movie for the first time this year. Without further ado:

Top Ten Movies (I have seen this year)

10. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Dude had a building for a head!! Cool looking movie. I really liked how they moved the characters forward in there lives. Better than many other sequel movies. "I am Father?" Nice.

9. The Exiles
My friends Mike and Dave, and myself went to see this at the Gene Siskel Center. It is a cinema-veritas style film about Native Americans living in Los Angeles in 1958. It is a unique film that depicts the context of its time very thoroughly and I found it very interesting seeing the time, the late 1950's on film. Though it is not above depicting grief porn as the film never gives a positive experience to contrast the negative, but that is the standard of non-Native film makers offering "a realistic portrayal of Indian life in the community". Still, I enjoyed it but tired of typical presentations of Natives. It seemed a missed opportunity.

8. Quantum of Solace
Neat, if not too memorable, James Bond film. Craig is coming into his own but needs better material than an Ian Fleming title. Still I am enjoying the new James Bond. I know people make a big deal over Connery and Brosnan. But while I have my own favorite for my own reasons, I always felt the best James Bond should always be whomever the current one is. How else would you invest any interest in the movies otherwise?

7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Very funny. Still tired of Jonah Hill’s shtick. Try acting my young friend. But it is the heart at the center of these stories that capture my interest at the same time as making me laugh out loud. The Dracula Love song was fantastic! This and "Superbad" (which almost made the DVD list) show that Apatow is a talented producer. Short-reviewed in an earlier WOS Review.

6. Iron Man
Very good movie, but I still cannot get over the giant contradiction of the heroics. But hey, I l ike comic book movies and this is one of the best ones to come out in a looooooooong time. Short-reviewed in an earlier WOS Review.

5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Despite what every one says, I found it a nice return to form. On par for an Indiana Jones Sequel. I hope to see more. Reviewed in an earlier WOS Review.

4. U23D - IMAX
Still the best concert film I have ever seen. Not just because I am a fan. More bands should release their concerts in 3D format. What U2 continually does is embrace these new technologies (3D is not even a new technology) and use them to push their music and express their creativity more so than any band out there. I know, it’s not letting kids name their own price for your downloadable tracks, but visually, U2 should release all their concert films in 3D from now on. They could have fun with the medium, I think.

3. Pixar’s Wall-E
What more can be said about this one? Smart, in that it does not treat its audience as stupid as the company that distributes it. A small cleaning robot falls in love on a planet Earth long-abandoned by gluttonous human beings. Very smart.

2. Red Cliff part One
Once this film finished playing in my DVD player, I immediately played it again. John Woo’s finest film thus far. (I’m including "The Killer".) I know it is not an ACCURATE portrayal of neither Chinese History or the book "Three Kingdoms", but his grasp of the craft far excels his past efforts. (To hell with the video games.) At times I let this play on a loop while I work on the computer or write or draw. Inspiring, the battles are awesome, and seeing characters I imagined come to life is pretty cool too. Released on DVD in Asia only. Part Two will come out later this month in Asia with a possible DVD release in March. Come on US, snap up the two films already!

1. The Dark Knight
What is it about watching a despicable characters act out in contrast to civilized society that we find so fascinating? Hannibal Lecter, Daniel Plainview, Anton Chigurh, Deadwood’s and Al Swearengen; all men on the brink of society and at times, madness. Now we can add The Dark Knight’s The Joker, as portrayed by the late Heath Ledger to this list of fascinating madmen. Great film overall for a comic book movie.

What I love most though, is the ending. Being Batman is not a good thing for Bruce Wayne, who has lost so much already, loses so much more in this film. That in the end, his become the thing he has fought so hard against so as to give his city hope, speaks volumes about the sacrifices he is prepared to make. It touched me that some one would give up so much. Could anyone of us do that? Batman’s reasoning followed by Gordon’s monologue is the stuff great movies are made of. Should get a Best Picture nomination at least.

Top Ten DVDs

Due to all that has been going on, needless to day I saw many more movies this year on DVD. Again, my criteria are lax for this category as I limited it to first-time purchases, which is why 30 Rock, Battlestar Galactica and Firefly did not make the list though I love them so.:

10. Rambo - Yep, I bought this before I even saw it. I must say, bringing Rambo into the 21 Century was not a bad idea. Sure, you can still call it a brain dead actioner. That is the spirit of this film, its heart. But adding age and perspective to a trained killer hiding in a world he has become comfortable in, gives the 2D character some weight, some heft. I like that Stallone tried to highlight the atrocities in Burma (Now, Myanmar) in the only way Stallone knew how and knew people would come to see it. Even casting a survivor of the regimes there as the bad guy, who wanted an accurate portrayal of the evils there. (Note: the actor and his family, risked prison sentences for him to take part in the film.) Wild world we live in when a "brain dead actioner" can accomplish something beyond its perceived scope. Hell, only Rambo could do that.

9. Heroes: Season One (SPOILERS)
Got this for $20 in Target. I fell in love with this series from episode one. I love how everyone began as ordinary people wanting to be extraordinary. I loved how it all led to a world-shattering crisis they had to try and prevent. I know that many found the finale anti-climactic, but no one ever thinks of it in the terms of, that is what is supped to happen when superheroes save the day. You see a train about to crash, you wince, expect the worse, then whoosh, Superman stops it, even allows it to travel on. That’s anti-climactic.

A final climactic dual between the armies of good and evil? Sure, a huge movie ending battle is expected, not when a plot is thwarted. If you look at Superman: the Movie, the climactic ending does not make sense if you think about it. Check this out. So, New York was supposed to explode but they prevented it. Guess what? Anti-climax. It’s supposed to be when the day is saved. Get over it.

I know they stumbled last season, which I still found enjoyable, but they are too laden with their own mythology. Like any comic book does after a while. A fresh start will invigorate the series once they begin to focus on the humanity of the characters rather than the plot devices common to all media.

8. Wing of Desire
When I bought this I suddenly realized that I never own a DVD of one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. Weird. I love the concept of the story, how it began as a love letter to Berlin. I love the idea that an angel would "fall to grace" by becoming a human when he falls in love. Falling in love should be that momentous for every one, it should be Falling To Grace. Beautiful film.

7. Lonesome Dove: Anniversary Edition (Hi Def Transfer)
It’s a sin in Indian Country to love western movies these days because of the depictions of Natives in many of them. I feel that many Natives have a higher degree of intelligence to know that these are not accurate representations and Native film makers will bust ass to correct them as they see fit. But Natives also know a good story when one is told. We being, ahem, a race of storytellers, right? Many people I know grew up watching John Wayne movies and westerns. Sure, that’s not us up on the screen, but Rio Bravo is a cool frickin’ story, Unforgiven is a cool frickin’ story, Josey Welles is a damn cool frickin’ story, Red River, Liberty Valance, Tombstone, Open Range are cool frinkin’ stories. Lonesome Dove towers alongside them.

I have been a fan of Gus and Call since I saw this on CBS many moons ago. Ha. With videotaped copies going around, four-volume VHS versions, the single tape version, I got used to the "television" look of the series. When I heard about this re-release and how the picture would be clarified and adapted for widescreen TV, I had to buy it. When I played it, it was so "movie like" that I was once again swept up in the story of two retired Texas Rangers on a cattle drive to Montana, anchored by two great performances by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. I still put it on, watch maybe 30 minutes or so, or, start at any point but end up watching though to the end, A powerful movie.

6. Deadwood: The Complete Series (non-purchase)
I picked up this series at the library on a whim a few years back. It is what I think a very accurate portrayal of the Old West is in film. The series anchored by great performances, among them my favorite, Ian McShane as Al Swearengen, rolled on through three season before HOB unfairly canceled it for budgetary reasons. Still, it was a damn good series. The storylines and plots were interconnected you found yourself returning again and again, and the ensemble acting is among the best.

I went on and bought Seasons One and Three, and still shopping for Season Two. But this came available recently and I am pondering still if I should buy it up. What made this one of my absolute favorites was when brought it home from the library, Bonnie said she was also interested in seeing it. After watching the whole season in about three days, She immediately had me get the next season. Within a week and change we were caught up with the series. Absolutely a great series.

5. The Justice League: New Frontier
Based on the Darwym Cooke two-part series of the same name. Which is still a strong read. It was in fact on my best books list last year. This mimics the style of the comic book and does an excellent job of voice casting. I know the fans got bent out of shape when Batman was not voice by Kevin Conway of The Animated Series fame, but who cares. The story expoles the changing idea of heroism. Well, the book did and this follows pretty close to it. Nice little cartoon.

4. Persepolis directed by Christopher Paronnuad and Marjane Satrapi
This film was robbed for best animated feature, but hey, no one listens to me. Tells Satrapi’s own story about growing up in Iran during the fall of the Shah and the Islamic Revolution, and her eventual journey to France. Powerful and well-told. Reviewed in an earlier edition of WOS.

3. Mystery Science Theater 3000 - 20th Anniversary Edition
I am so happy to have gotten this for my Bonnie this Christmas as they have become very rare very quickly. Includes four episodes of the series. Alas, only one with Joel. I have come to appreciate Joel more, especially as the creator of the series. I fell in love with the series during the Sci Fi years but in recent months found the Joel years to be equally good, if not better in some instances. The pack also come with a documentary on the history of MST3K and video on the 20th Anniversary Reunion which took place at last year’s San Diego Comics Convention. Solid pack that included a mini-bust of Crow T. Robot, which made it all worth the price.

2. There Will Be Blood
Again a powerful movie with a great performance. The DVD was pretty neat as well, which included a deleted scene I felt could have been left in the film. But hey, no one ever listens to me.

1. (Tie) Red Cliff/The Dark Knight
Of course you would see this happen. Two of the best movies I saw this past year tying for first place. When ever I put either one of these film in the player, I let them play on a loop because I simply cannot get enough. Got buy them today!!!

Top Eight Books (I have read this year)

Again, limited to books I actually sat and read this year.

8. Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien - ed. Humphrey Carpenter w/ Christopher Tolkien (continual reading)
I keep opening this up and reading it. To see Tolkien’s letters to his loved ones is powerful. He had an exceptional life. To see "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" take shape through his letters is an amazing thing. Pick this up if you are able.

7. Daughter of Destiny - Benazir Bhutto
An amazing figure, an amazing life. She could have accomplished so much had she lived. She was so close I feel. Though I have not yet complete reading this I am promising myself to finish this story and pick up her last writing "Reconciliation" this year. I urge you to do the same.

6. Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
The graphic novel depicting Satrapi’s own story and exile from Iran. Powerful in its simplistic art.

5. "It’s a Bird" - Steven T. Steagle
This is a story about and not about Superman. The author explores the myth of Superman in the context of his own life’s crisis. What is Superman, how can he connect to human beings when he is superhuman and nothing can harm him? How can Superman continue to inspire when he has it so easy and we can never be like him? The author searches for the answers in this powerful little story.

4. Fools Crow - James Welch
I am not much for historical Native American fiction, but once I started this one I could not stop reading it. A very good story by a very good writer.

3. Amusing Ourselves to Death - Neil Postman
Talks about how television changed how we record our truths as well as how it altered our learning knowledge. Pretty good read, still picking through it and I find myself underlining sections. I recommend you all pcik it up when you get the chance to.

2. Bono in Conversation with Michka Assayas
One of my heroes talking about all sorts of things. Inspiring set of interviews.

1. You guessed it: "Three Kingdoms" Luo Guanzhong
Still reading this. Once I finish, will probably flip to the beginning and start again. Enough said.

Top Albums (I got this year)

8. Persepolis - Soundtrack
My like of this album stemmed from the movie. Unique in its sound, which I enjoy.

7. There Will Be Blood Soundtrack - Johnny Greenwood
Everyone knows I do not care for Radiohead. But his music for one of my favorite movies is excellent and I can overlook that little flaw.

6. Magic - Bruce Springsteen
Good music from one of the eternal bests. Cannot wait for his new one. He is one of those artists whose albums get better and better. Maybe because today’s music stars do make entire albums any more. That is truly a lost art.

5. American Gangster - Jay-Z
I am not a hip-hop um, liker. I never really cared for it. I used to like rap music when I was in grade school, and all the old school breakdancing DJs. Again, interest in the movie got me interested in the artist and the songs. I picked it up on a whim and was not disapointed.

4. Still - The BoDeans
There latest album. Loaded with great songs about the longing for love, the need to care and it all hit me deeply. I have been a fan of the BoDeans since "Outside Looking In" but have all of there albums. They are one of those artists, like U2 and Springsteen that make albums of good music, each one an improvement over the last. They never fail to have at least one great song about longing. A great live band too. Check them out when you get teh chance.

3. 6 on the Blue - Saint Mike
My friend Mike’s EP. He holds his own with the best of them. Hell, he ranks higher than Jay-Z on these lists. And not just because he’s a friend of mine. He is a true talent and sort of a journeyman skilled in many trades. Cool little record.

2. As I Am - Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys. Enough said. (Except, "I am Superwoman" is the theme for many of the women in my life.)

1. The Dark Knight Soundtrack - James Newton Howard & Hanz Zimmer
Once again, the Dark Knight takes the top spot. I have this plugged in and let it play from beginning to end. The movie’s theme of self-sacrificing always come to mind when I hear it and has inspired me in my own life’s journey and having to make those sacrifices for the greater good, to have to look like the villain because that is what is expect so that some people’s hopes are rewarded. This music is that good. It continues to be my internal soundtrack. Even if I'm just doing the laundry. Great music.

Well, that's it for 2008. Sorry there were no cute lists like Best Cakes or Stuffed Animals, but as my friends Counting Crows put it "a long December/ and there's reason to believe/maybe this year will be better than the last."

I hope that you have a great 2009. I'll see you here again with these lists next year, and sooner with another review. Laters Gators.