gumpold

I was able to see "Louis" last night in Detroit. This was the first time I had seen a movie with the music preformed live. It was quite an enjoyable experience. I found myself during the movie at points where I had to remind myself that all the sounds I'm hearing are coming from the band in front of me. They did a fantastic job! Anthony Coleman was perfectly cast as Louis. His bright face, full of expression, is just what is needed for a silent movie. Jackie Earle Haley gave a wonderful "Chaplinesque" performance. His mannerisms caught the vintage style perfectly. Shanti Lowry as grace, did not feel as well cast as the other main roles. She did not seem to be able to convey as much of the story through her body language as the two other main actors were able to. I didn't find myself as interested in her story line as much and wishing they were focusing on the Louis character more. That could be more of a result in my disagreeing with Director/Editing choices than with her performance however.

All round, an 8 from me. Less bordello, more Louis would have made it even higher. If it is playing anywhere near you, go see it for a very entertaining evening!

Remember, remember, the fifth of November, The gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

Take the stories "1984" and "Atlas Shrugged" and combine with Phantom of the Opera, and you have V for Vendetta; A Fantastic new movie from the creators of The Matrix starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. Based on a 1982 comic book story by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta tells the story of the world about 15 years or so from now, and how it quickly became a world of despair and tyranny, created by a compliant public, in hopes that the government can save them from everything they fear.

Most of the population accepts what they feel is a necessary loss of freedom in the hard times the world is facing. Those that don't are usually branded terrorist or enemies of the state and "black bagged" in the middle of the night by government agents, never to be heard from again. One man, known only as "V" (Weaving), refuses to live in such a world. Believing that "people should not fear their governments, governments should fear their people", V single handedly purses a vendetta for liberty against those individuals in power responsible for the new world order. In a very "John Galt" like address to the nation, V starts to shake the citizens from their complacency, helping them to realize they only have themselves to blame for the situation they are in, but it is also only their willingness that allows it to continue. Circumstances tie V to Evey Hammond (Portman), a young woman who knows what is going on in the world is wrong, but is too scared to do anything about it. The story follows her individual journey from fear to realizing freedom of the mind is more important than even life itself. This movie may be build as an action film, but I see it as a love story. Not in the traditional sense of between two people, but in a Randian way between people and ideas.

This movie is one of the most powerful movies about liberty I have ever seen. I have seen this movie twice now and both times I have had to keep myself from standing up and cheering at the end. I am very heartened by the positive response I have heard from everyone I have talked to that has seen this movie. V for Vendetta is rated "R", but I would still recommend it to anyone old enough to understand the ideas presented in this film. The second time I saw it I brought my 15 year old son, and I would have brought my 13 year old daughter, if I thought she would have understood it. To all my family and friends that don't quite understand why I am involved in the libertarian movement, this movie is for them. These are the reasons I devote so much time and energy to that cause. Seeing these ideas so strongly displayed in a major motion picture, gives me renewed hope that people still place a value on liberty of more than mere lip service. To anyone that supports our government's suppression of freedom in the name of a "War on Terror", this movie is also for them. Your Liberty, the freedom of your mind, is too precious to trade away for anything anyone else can offer you.

Martin & Orloff is a movie about the relationship between a suicide attemptee and his psychiatrist who has as many issues as his patient. The movie made me laugh several times but, like cotton candy, it had no substance to it. It started fading from my mind as soon as I left the theater. Enjoyable but forgetable. I can see myself in a couple of years, if this movie ever makes it to tv, saying "I might have seen that. I'm not sure."