American Psycho: EPIC FILM

Christian Bale’s performance in the movie American Psycho directed by Mary Harron was an absurd film based off a whimsical dream a man was having because he was bored with his own life. It was very strange and uncomfortable to view what was going on in his mind. The murderous acts he committed to fellow coworkers and homeless people to the sexual acts he attempts with hookers off the street. Christian Bale really took on this role and made me see what he sees. It was scary when I realized it was all a dream only because now he could make it a reality.  The intense scenes were you could hear his inner thoughts were quite disturbing, but that was supposed to be the general feeling. The uncomfortable feeling is super strong in this film. I love that the director was a woman as well, because you could see that she really tried to take a new direction with the style of the movie. The fact that she achieved this feeling out of me makes her a true director because not once did I stop looking around or feeling awkward and not once did I think this was a horrible movie. It’s strange that that was evoked. I was uncomfortable, but I liked it. Also the scenes of routine from his exercising regime to his beauty routine were all contributing aspects to how he was: creepy. I didn’t enjoy watching it, but it was genius.

Dead Man Down: the epic thriller

Just saw a promotional video at the Angelika Film Center and Cafe. The movie was Dead Man Down directed by Niels Arden Oplev. It was one of the most action packed thrillers I have ever seen. I have yet to see in the months I've been working at my theater or going to other theaters a movie as action packed as this one. Terrence Howard made me hate him. That's why I love him so much because he can make you feel utter disgust for him in one film and total love in another. He is probably one of the strongest black actors I have ever seen. Also the man who played the protagonist Colin Farrel was so calm throughout the whole film which added to the suspense because not until you get close to the end do you realize why he has waited so long to attempt to kill his enemy: Because he wants to see him suffer. Victor [Colin] wants to witness the agony of his victim. THAT WAS SOOOO FREAKING CLEVER!!!! I don't really enjoy thrillers too much because of the immense cliche's and gore, but Dead Man Down makes you feel for the the protagonist and the ingenue/hurt girl.

Dystopia By Josh GIbbens

Dystopia

Smoke pumping into the sky,
A Gothic Skyline filled with black
Black architecture,
Dominating a brooding landscape

Clanking cogs grinding,
Making an inhuman scream
People walking silently,
In black uniform lines

No individuality survives,
Everyone dressed the same, skin pale to the eye
Morbidly cold to the touch,
Mere machines

Blackness permeating everywhere,
Flesh providing no warmth
I dream of what the world could have been like,
Full of colour and life, full of creativity and uniqueness

No place to voice my ideas,
Dangerous ideas crushed by those in control
Part of one collective mind,
Merely a subjugated citizen! 

Josh Gibbens

ANALYSIS: This poet has taken the idea of a dystopian society and explicated it by alluding the readers mind into the world of a dystopia. Although most do not know they are in a dystopia, Gibbens allows us to see from the outside looking in. He describes the uniformity which takes away individual power and the "colour" of life turned to "blackness". This poet uses extreme imagery and detail to show the readers how wrong and inhabitable dystopias can be and even uses "I" to put himself in the world, so we can see it through his eyes, rather than hear it from his mouth. This author truly grasps how a dystopia can and will be regardless of the extreme nature of one and the non-extremes of others.  

The Handmaid's Tale:Chap 11 quote

In chap. 11 there is a quote. It reads "To the right is the store where we order dresses. Some people call them habits, a good name for them. Habits are hard to break." In the adventures of Tom Sawyer there is a parallel idea when he states "The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it." You can see both Margaret Atwood and Mark Twain had similar ideas on the subject of customs. The structure of the dystopia present in The Handmaid's Tale tries to defend habits by saying "habits are hard to break." The given in to a general idea shows the lessening of hope by the handmaid's. If one person could just break away and shop somewhere else, that would show there individualism making them stronger. Being one is rather than the many is a powerful thing because no one can tell you that you are not different. That's what this dystopia has stripped the handmaid's of.

The Winged Lion: Being a honest killer

There are two types of killers in this world. The l ion is thought to be a symbol of pure murder. Thoughtlessly kill without regret or remorse. Lambs are symbols of innocence or tenderness; the exact opposite of the lion. There are two types of characters that people have as well. The angel quality represents truth and loyalty. Then there is the serpent represents lies and sneakiness. I was told to put myself in one quadrant that would represent two of the combinations.

 I considered myself a winged lion (angel lion) because I am more likely to kill than the average man, but more likely to be honest than the average man. I noticed this about me at an early age because lying was a moral quality I never picked up, but toughness was a moral quality I became acquainted with. Although I am more likely to tell the truth I am not a complete saint. I have lied before and manipulate, but I am less likely to lie about detrimental situations and I am a blunt person. I rather not go through the stressful process of getting someone to believe a fib when I could just tell the truth. I have no fear of getting in trouble because I do for myself. I do hold the truth in until the necessary because everyone can't handle the truth.

Also, I will not kill without the level of concern being high, but giving the opportunity I will kill for my kids (if I had kids of course), for my money, and my own safety without hesitation.  So when I put myself in the quadrant of lion and angel I put myself as close to the middle sector being half a saint and half a killer. Which in my point of view makes me a HUMAN? In the Bible, the scripture Exodus 21:24-25 states "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." I used to have this outlook on life. When I felt disrespected I would disrespect right back. But lately I have been taken on the idea from Matthews 5:39 “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn him the other also. I usually   allow persecutors more to pass because of the level of calmness I have obtained over the years.

Pure Lions take no prisoners everyone gets full consequences. No one is given a chance, but me as a human tries to keep drama at a minimum. Although revenge is great, prison is not. Also "karma" always takes tolls on persecutors. That's why I believe I am not so high on the lion scale. I am also not in the middle of lion and lamb is because if ever put in harm’s way I would take advantage of it and protect myself at all cost.  I am not a perfect saint nor am a murderous killer, but I will tell the truth or keep it real, and I will kill to defend myself or my children.