Notes from a Genius

Well, another great weekend spent outside, for the majority of it. I also hit up the USM Bike Swap and purchased a new road bike for myself. I'm psyched to get back on the road again. I love riding my bike! _________________________________________________ Film 121 "Pi" Directed by: Darren Aronofsky This is perhaps one of the most riveting directorial debuts. This is the film that birthed one of the most creative and stunningly original film directors career. It's the beginning of Aronofsky's visionary approach to filmmaking. Look at his filmography: Pi- 1998 Requiem for a Dream- 2000 The Fountain- 2006 The Wrestler- 2008 Black Swan- 2010 Noah- coming 2014 "Pi" is a film about the madness that can often accompany genius. Max (played by Sean Gullette) is a math whiz who believes: 1) math is the language of the universe 2) nature can be expressed in numbers- there's a great discussion of the Fibonacci sequence at either a diner or a bar...

Since I've taking up a "new" hobby of walking pretty much anywhere I need to be in Portland and just for fun (it's relaxing and meditative), I decided to create a playlist on my iPod specifically designed for those times I just want to hit the road with my shoes for an extended period of time. The Smiths- Shoplifters of the World Unite Straylight Run- Hands in the Sky The Doors- Roadhouse Blues Weezer- Only in Dreams Bruce Springsteen- Backstreets Built to Spill- Freebird Kings of Leon- Knocked Up Jets to Brazil- I Type for Miles Moneen- The Last Song I Will Ever Want to Sing Arcade Fire- Suburban War Semisonic- Closing Time Damien Rice- The Blower's Daughter Rustic Overtones- Iron Boots Sebadoh- Too Pure Queen- Under Pressure Ellie Goulding- I Know You Care Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under the Bridge Billy Joel- Piano Man Jacob Augustine- The City Radiohead- Lotus Flower Airborne Toxic Event- Innocence Dido- No Freedom Coldplay- Fix You Pat B...

I know it's been a few days since I've been on here. Truth be told, it's been absolutely gorgeous outside, which makes it hard to stay by a computer and write. I have been watching films, but life has kind of been in a whirlwind. So much going on. I'm finishing up my Master's Degree, trying to wrap up a final paper/project that's due next weekend, then I'll be graduating on the 11th. I've been throwing my hat into the whole dating mix again, too. Talking to a couple of girls, to see if anything will materialize. Spending time outside, mostly. I've been waiting all winter for this great weather, and I'll be damned if I'll be stuck inside. In fact, when I am inside and the weather is great, I feel guilty being inside. Now, teaching. It's exhausting. I'm so tired at the end of the day, but I can't imagine doing anything else, even though I threaten to leave the profession behind if I lose my job, again, at the end of this year (b...

"Girls Gone Dead" Starring: some good looking girls (Katie Peterson, Shea Stewart, Brandy Whitford, Caley Hayes, Ryan Keely, Krystyna Ahlers) First off, with a title like "Girls Gone Dead" you have to go into it with low expectations, and the movie won't disappoint you. It doesn't disappoint. It follows typical, cheesy, campy B-movie horror formula. Katie Peterson plays a straight-laced Christian girl who is joining her group of sorority-type girlfriends for a Spring Break week of wildness. Her mother is a Christian advocate, and a bit of a Bible-thumper that does not approve of her friends or her daughter going on Spring Break with them. They are a bad influence on her. She has 5 girlfriends, 3 of which the writers were not so subtle in their homage to a classic 90s television show-- "Saved by the Bell"-- get ready...their names are: Kelly Morris, Jessie Scott, Lisa Kapowski (see the references?). The clear leader of the group and head-bitc...

"Monogamy" Starring: Rashida Jones and Chris Messina Monogamy tells the story of a couple, Theo and Nat (short for Natalie?) played respectively by Chris Messina and Rashida Jones; and when the film begins you can already sense the tension. Theo is a very sexual person and each pursuit of his fiancee is thwarted by her coming up with an excuse (shower, hospital, etc.). Perhaps this is a message or subtle jab at men for being overly sexual and relying solely on that as the driving force of the relationship, because Nat is about so much more. Yes, she's a very attractive, yet typical Brooklynite (hipster?), especially played by Rashida Jones, but the war of the sexes as it relates to relationships and language is the message I received through viewing this film. Here, we have a seemingly ordinary couple whose relationship seems to have been following a collision course, which perhaps neither wanted to admit to themselves. The hurt that's been boiling in a pot on th...

This has probably been one of the most relaxing school vacations in awhile. It helps that the weather has changed and its actually decent now. Looking back, Maine had a very long, depressing, all-I-want-to-do-is-stay-inside-until-the-snow-disappear kind of winters. It was blistering cold. It snowed a significant amount. It was dark more than it was light. It was depressing. Seasonal Affected Disorder, perhaps. I mean, I went out as much as I wanted to, but the cold tended to keep me in. Christmas vacation- nothing much happened, except I got this brilliant idea for my blog and started the project of watching 365 films in one year. February break came next. Again, nothing much. It was still cold and I'm not a skier or a snowboarder. I did play in a pond hockey tournament. That was fun. But, now we've come to April and it's finally spring in Maine. This week's weather makes braving all those cold days and nights during the winter worth it. I think the winters that we ha...

I haven't written in a few days, because like I stated before (probably a couple of times now, actually) I did not want this project to overtake my life, so to speak. Yes, watching 365 films in one year can be overwhelming, but I knew I wanted to still experience life. And life has been great lately. Friday night, last week, I got to celebrate my cousin Josh's return back to not only the states, but back to Maine. He and his amazing girlfriend, Molly spent about 9 months traveling. First, they drove across the country in their car/van. From Maine to California. They stayed with friends along the way, but they also made a point to stay on co-op farms, where they worked on the farm in exchange for room and board, as well as food. I spoke with Molly during their welcome back party, and she said it was quite a learning experience for both of them, but also extremely rewarding. Then, after traveling across the country then flew to New Zealand and stayed/worked on farms for 4 month...

I've been slowly working on some others writings, besides this blog. Here's yet another draft of a poem. Swimming (A Harsh Reality)  By: Sean Moore Swimming in the sea Bound to drown When I stop to breathe Water rushes in past my cheeks Sends me under Once Twice The sinking sensation satiates As panic sets in Thoughts of us Like a life-vest full of sand No longer soothe The truth pummels me Like a wave Safety is miles away Sea salt licks my wound Like an open flame to the night I surrender to The flowing current And the force of the undertow Like a floodgate opened on a famished city Water fills my lungs And I am done fighting It's useless As the perfect storm Delivers me to the bottom of This darkened sea Love has capsized me

It's well-known amongst my crew that I have never been a fan of puppets. In fact, they are probably tied with spiders for my Number One Fear! And it stems from childhood, ironically enough, it was Jim Henson's creatures in "Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal" (as well as Mr. Rogers) that fed my fear. "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" Kevin Clash was Elmo, completely. He brought Elmo to life, well as much as a muppet/puppet could be brought to life, I suppose. He defined Elmo's personality. He came up with the distinct voice that has also seemingly defined Elmo. The preceding puppeteer gave Elmo a deep, husky voice that just didn't work. We get the firsthand account of how the original puppeteer was frustrated with the character of Elmo and how he threw him at Clash one day in one of the rehearsal rooms and said, "See what you can do with it." And see he did. Clash created the Elmo that became a beloved Muppet with millions...

Planet of the Apes (2001) Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Mark Walhberg, Helena Bonham Carter, and more It's not as if anyone was really begging for a remake of the 1968 "classic" original film, but if it was going to be done, I cannot think of anyone better to re-imagine it than the one and only Tim Burton. Except, his recent films have really kind of been a disappointment. Let's take a quick peek at his career: Pee Wee's Big Adventure ('85) CLASSIC Beetlejuice ('88) CLASSIC Batman ('89) OKAY Edward Scissorhands ('90) CLASSIC Batman Returns ('92) CLASSIC Ed Wood ('94) OKAY Mars Attacks ('96) DISAPPOINTMENT Sleeply Hollow ('99) OKAY Planet of the Apes ('01) OKAY Big Fish ('03) CLASSIC Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ('05) DISAPPOINTMENT Corpse Bride ('05) GOOD Sweeney Todd ('07) DISAPPOINTMENT Alice in Wonderland ('10) DISAPPOINTMENT Dark Shadows ('12) DISAPPOINTMENT Frankenween...

Grindhouse Presents "Planet Terror" Directed by: Robert Rodriguez Starring: everyone imaginable (almost) including: Rose McGowan, Bruce Willis, Freddy Hernandez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton In 2007, Tarantino and his protege, Robert Rodriguez got together and decided to pay tribute to a long forgotten form of filmmaking known as "Grindhouse." Tarantino convinced his filmmaking buddy that it would be a great idea and box-office gold to pay homage to this underground form of film. "Grindhouse" is a term often used to describe a theater that shows exploitation films, mainly located on the now completely changed 42nd Street in New York City. This was a notorious strip of the city known for its strip clubs, drugs, sex, and everything else in the 50s and 60s and 70s. These theaters showed films you couldn't watch anywhere else because they mostly featured porn and/or sleaze, "slasher" horror films, or even martial arts films dubbed over from ...