Baraka

The Movie Itself is directed and lensed by Ron Fricke.
ba⋅ra⋅ka : bəˈrɑkə/ [buh-rah-kuh]
–noun Islam.
a spiritual power believed to be possessed by certain persons, objects, tombs, etc.
Origin: Ar barakah; cf. Heb bərākhāh blessing

A blessing. The breath of life. Raw spiritual power. All of these definitions can be found to describe the word Baraka, a word that perfectly encapsulates this breathtaking cinematic journey into the human spirit, showcasing both the divine connections between us, as well as our effect on the planet at large — for better or worse.

Ron Fricke’s masterpiece is the quintessential documentary/travelogue that captures our planet’s raw, unique beauty, while providing us with a unique perspective of human life via mind-blowing moving portraits of ritualistic practices around the world, ranging from funeral pyres to monotonous morning commutes. His vision is uncompromised, and unfailing — an unparalleled visual experiment that is unmatched in every sense. Devoid of dialog or narration, the film is purely cinematic; universally understood, and applicable because it relies on imagery alone to tell its story. Some might be deterred by that fact, but I can’t imagine the film any other way. Simply put, you’ve never seen a film quite like this one. It is meditative, hypnotic, emotionally charged, breathtaking and engaging all at once.

And as bold as it may sound, I’ve never seen a more beautiful film than Baraka. Every single image — whether static, moving or time-lapse — is expertly composed and teeming with grace, artistry and meaning. It’s as if the film is a love letter addressed to the inhabitants of earth, from an alien planet. The perspective is so unique, incisive and removed that it’s hard to imagine a human could have lensed such a magnificent piece of art. It deftly summarizes the human race and our collective effect on our surroundings, on history and ourselves.

I simply can’t recommend this film enough. It is easily one of the most profound and touching films/documentaries I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. And while I can go on and on about how fantastic it is, in the end, words are at a loss to describe how beautiful and surreal the viewing experience is. Baraka is an unforgettable emotional journey across the world, that instills hope, and awe, allowing us to see life’s wondrous gifts, and yet it also tells a cautionary tale of planetary disharmony through images of death, destruction and poverty. In the end though, as the film’s credits began to roll, I felt a swell of hope, awe and respect for all life on this planet come over me, and I even felt more connected to the world around me, as hokey as that may sound.

Where The Godfather is my favorite fictional film, Baraka is my new favorite non-fiction film. Both are timeless classics, and prime examples of filmmaking excellence, but Baraka in particular is an experience all its own. I don’t think the film will ever find itself as universally accepted as it is constructed, but I imagine that it will only continue to amass fans, garner more praise, and become more and more significant as time rolls on as the boundaries between cultures inevitably overlap and ultimately dissolve.

Lost: Season One

The Show Itself is created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Carlton Cuse and Jack Bender.

— An Introduction to LOST —

If you’re a fan of modern television, chances are that you’ve been accosted numerous times by friends or family as they attempt to impress upon you their new favorite show, claiming ‘it’s the BEST show EVER’. Oftentimes, the shows they’re “hooked on” never ending being anything special. Whether the show’s writing is hokey, or the acting talent is sub par, the simple fact is that most network television shows never strive for greatness — whether due to budgetary concerns, or lackluster concepts. They are, for the most part, content with mediocrity and melodrama. This is not the case with this decade’s finest network television show, LOST.

The show is so incredibly fresh, engrossing and complex that it’s almost impossible to resist popping in the next disc, or firing up another episode on ABC’s site once you’ve started. Reminiscent of the serialized mystery broadcasts of the olden days, LOST deftly blends the genres of drama, adventure, fantasy, romance, and science fiction into an unbeatable concept that thrills and delights to no end. Whether its the show’s in-depth character drama/studies, the survivors every-day struggles on the island, or questions about the mysterious nature of their new-found home, LOST is unrelenting and unlike anything you’ve ever seen. If you haven’t seen it, I can’t think of a better excuse to get started now than with this latest Blu-ray release. It looks, and sounds as good as any TV show out there — if not better — and I truly believe it’s one of the only shows you’ll ever want to, or need to, watch more than once to fully appreciate the intricacies and mysterious happenings littered throughout the show. I simply can’t recommend this one enough.

— Season 1: Summary —

Oceanic Flight 815 crash lands on an island. Wildly off-course, and possibly thousands of miles from their final destination, the survivors have to learn to live together, or die alone as the chance of being rescued grows slimmer. However, they are quick to learn that the island isn’t quite deserted. An encounter with a polar bear, a sixteen-year-old distress call, and a locked, buried hatch suggest that there is much more to the island than they could have ever imagined.

— Parting Thoughts —

Overall, despite me talking trash about people extolling the virtues of various modern TV shows, I can’t help but recommend this series and perpetuate my own hypocrisy. I honestly believe that LOST is one of those shows that is so incredibly unique and engaging that you would have to try to dislike it. Sure, people have issues with unanswered questions here and there, but if you ask me, questions are what drive life, and TV programming is no exception.

The bottom line is that LOST is THE show to own, to see again and again, so that you can sift through the layers of mystery and character connections, and here for the first time on Blu-ray, you can’t do any better than this audio/visual presentation. It is stellar. This is quite simply a “must-own” in every sense.

Lost: Season Two

The Show Itself is created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Carlton Cuse and Jack Bender.

— An Introduction to LOST —

If you’re a fan of modern television, chances are that you’ve been accosted numerous times by friends or family as they attempt to impress upon you their new favorite show, claiming ‘it’s the BEST show EVER’. Oftentimes, the shows they’re “hooked on” never ending being anything special. Whether the show’s writing is hokey, or the acting talent is sub par, the simple fact is that most network television shows never strive for greatness — whether due to budgetary concerns, or lackluster concepts. They are, for the most part, content with mediocrity and melodrama. This is not the case with this decade’s finest network television show, LOST.

The show is so incredibly fresh, engrossing and complex that it’s almost impossible to resist popping in the next disc, or firing up another episode on ABC’s site once you’ve started. Reminiscent of the serialized mystery broadcasts of the olden days, LOST deftly blends the genres of drama, adventure, fantasy, romance, and science fiction into an unbeatable concept that thrills and delights to no end. Whether its the show’s in-depth character drama/studies, the survivors every-day struggles on the island, or questions about the mysterious nature of their new-found home, LOST is unrelenting and unlike anything you’ve ever seen. If you haven’t seen it, I can’t think of a better excuse to get started now than with this latest Blu-ray release. It looks, and sounds as good as any TV show out there — if not better — and I truly believe it’s one of the only shows you’ll ever want to, or need to, watch more than once to fully appreciate the intricacies and mysterious happenings littered throughout the show. I simply can’t recommend this one enough.

— Season 2: Summary —

With the hatch blown open, the discovery and exploration of the island’s mysterious past begins to come to light. A scientific commune, named the Dharma initiative once occupied the island, and the sole overseer of the hatch station (named “The Swan”) aids the survivors in their quest to get off the island. Simultaneously, our friends come to learn that there are more survivors of the plane crash, but that they aren’t the only ones living on the island. No, there appear to be other inhabitants, or natives, the motives of which are unclear. It isn’t until the rescue of a widowed balloonist, named Henry Gale, that the survivors learn about the true nature of the island natives, and their far reaching influence.

— Parting Thoughts —

Overall, despite me talking trash about people extolling the virtues of various modern TV shows, I can’t help but recommend this series and perpetuate my own hypocrisy. I honestly believe that LOST is one of those shows that is so incredibly unique and engaging that you would have to try to dislike it. Sure, people have issues with unanswered questions here and there, but if you ask me, questions are what drive life, and TV programming is no exception.

Here in the second season, the show really comes into its own. So much comes to light through the discovery of the Dharma initiative, and yet more questions about the nature of the island, and its inhabitants drive the viewer to burn through each episode, hungry for more.

The bottom line is that LOST is THE show to own, to see again and again, so that you can sift through the layers of mystery and character connections, and here first the first time on Blu-ray, you can’t do any better than this audio/visual presentation. It is stellar. This is quite simply a “must-own” in every sense.

Hot Rod

The Movie Itself is directed by Akiva Schaffer.

As admirable as he is deluded, Rod Kimble lives out his days performing stunts in the hopes of becoming a legitimate stuntman, just like his deceased father. Of course, the only problem is that his stunts aren’t quite “dangerous” nor is he particularly skilled at what he does. However, all of this changes when Rod finds out that his step-father is gravely ill. He promptly sets out to raise money for an operation that will save the man, but he does this not out of love, but because he feels the need to kick his step-father’s ass and earn his respect.

These days its nearly impossible to navigate your respective social circles without hearing about The Lonely Island comedy troupe — Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. The trio of comedians/musicians have taken SNL and subsequently the world by storm via their hilarious “digital shorts” — namely “Dick in a Box”, “Jizz in My Pants” and “I’m on a Boat” — and rightly so. The videos are expertly produced, directed and shot, and the songs themselves are insanely funny, and all-together catchy. However, despite their recent popularity boom, it seems as though their feature film debut, Hot Rod, is still relatively unknown, or well received.

In truth, I hadn’t seen the film until it came to me for review, and I did have some reservations about it. As i recall, I steered clear of the film in theaters because the marketing campaign pushed the Napoleon Dynamite angle a bit too much, and because I detest that film I mistakenly avoided it. Now, two years later, I can safely say that I made a grave error in having waited so long to see it. Bear in mind, it’s not that the film is incredibly funny or particularly well-crafted. No, for me it represents a return to comedic form that’s been lost for years. The form I’m referring to is the classic “stupid comedy” that Adam Sandler championed in the mid-to-late nineties. In the wake of comedic gems like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore, it’s been years since someone has successfully revisited the formula, until now. Where other films have tried and failed, Hot Rod reigns supreme, bringing to the comedic forefront the perfect blend of ridiculousness and comedic performance/timing that makes it a worthy heir to the “Happy Madison” fare of yesteryear.

If you’re like me and you consider yourself a big fan of Sandler’s old films, be sure and give this film a chance. With the talented Lonely Island trio at the helm, the lovely Isla Fisher serving up ample eye candy, and the unstoppable Danny McBride doling out comedic brilliance, how can you go wrong?

Supernatural: The Complete Third Season

The Show Itself is created by Eric Kripke.

Supernatural centers around two brothers who hunt down and dispatch mythic demons and ghouls with great relish and determination. Now in it’s third season, the brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) are faced with two pressing issues: 1) an open gateway to hell (one they opened in Season 2) needs to be closed, or else the demons that have sprung forth will continue to wreak havoc on innocent people 2) Dean must find a way to reclaim his soul from the devil (after selling it to save the life of his brother). Along the way, the two brothers team up with a variety of characters in order to do battle with the forces of darkness, and all things supernatural.

I can’t help but feel as though I’m at a loss having never seen the previous seasons of Supernatural prior to this review. Thankfully, there is a brief primer at the beginning of the season opener, but no amount of recap can supplement the experience of two entire seasons. As such, I was not invested in the characters, their plight or the consequences of their actions, in this season or others. Having a limited understanding of their origins was also a problem, but Supernatural doesn’t really strike me as an incredibly complex, dense storyline either. In that way, the show is entirely accessible for mass audiences, and should you want to pass the time, you would certainly find much to entertain your mind grapes here — just don’t expect to exercise them too much.

Still, Supernatural succeeds admirably in what is surely its principle goal, to be an entertaining, demonic slasher piece, but it never breaks any new ground either. In other words, it’s not a particularly novel show/concept. I wish I could say that I was more enthralled by it, but truth is, I wasn’t. As the season drew to a close, I found myself pushing forward not because of a burning interest, but more so because I wanted to get to the end and start writing the review.

While I may not be the show’s biggest fan, or advocate for that matter, I’d definitely be up for starting the series from the beginning, should the first two seasons ever make their way to Blu-ray. Perhaps then I will have the necessary framework and background to truly appreciate the show. Nonetheless, I still had fun watching it, and I have no doubt that fans and newcomers alike will be pleased to see it in HD.

Valkyrie

The Movie Itself was directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) and penned by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun).

After thirteen long years apart, the creative forces that brought about one of the finest mystery/drama/thrillers in cinematic history — The Usual Suspects — decided to team up once again, setting their sights on the compelling true story of Operation Valkyrie. It was a story, that I was unfamiliar with — having never learned about it in High School or College — but upon reading the synopsis, I couldn’t imagine the film being anything less than stellar, especially when it was announced that Tom Cruise was set to play the lead part.

I suppose I should give those of you that aren’t familiar with the story a little background before jumping into the film. The operation, code named Valkyrie, was an ingenious plot devised by high ranking military officers within Hitler’s army that, if successful, would have seen Hitler assassinated and the Nazi regime dismantled. As we all know, the conspiracy did not succeed, but the story of their failure is an important one indeed, and the film does a fine job of breathing life into this little known story.

However, despite the film’s apparent attention to detail, taught pacing, and stellar performances I ultimately left the theater shrugging my shoulders. I did so not because I didn’t enjoy the movie — I did — but more because the film’s message isn’t fully realized. What’s the point? It’s obvious they wanted to end the Nazi rule, and kill Hitler, but to what end? To seize power themselves, or would they have been more noble and restored balance to the war torn country?

Beyond that, I also felt somewhat ambivalent to their struggle, and ultimately their fate. And, because the story is one of failure I wasn’t particularly moved or inspired, at least not as much as I was hoping.

Still though, I can’t help but think that the film, and their story, has been done to perfection. In other words, I can’t see anyone ever lensing this story better than Singer, and I can’t imagine anyone ever writing a better script than McQuarrie, and that, I think, is probably the most tragic aspect of all. The film is as good as it will ever be, but it’s not quite the tour-de-force it might have been if the conspirators had succeeded, nor is it the hit that Tom Cruise needed to reboot his image. Therefore, the film resides in cinematic purgatory, living amongst a rare breed of films that are at once expertly crafted and mediocre.