TIME IS SPENT DRINKING IN CULTURE
By Alex Ness
My time grieving has been spent in mostly solitary activities. Reading Camus, Kafka and watching a bazillion documentaries, all helped give me perspective.
I watched some films that I didn't enjoy, but felt them to be well made
and likely enjoyed by others. I have watched Reservoir Dogs, and thought
it good but hard to watch. Mostly everything else I began but couldn't
get through them. Especially as I think Quentin Tarantino is a fine
director, screenwriter... He is bright, able, understands the works that
have been made prior and more. But, having said all that, his qualities
being elite, I've only an appreciation for his work, rather than love. I
look forward to his release of a film I am moved by. I didn't dislike Inglorious Bastards for the same reason as the others. He gets the very best acting from his chosen actors and actresses, he has perfect director's eye, and is fearless. But Inglorious Bastards is a fairy tale, and one that the unfortunately less aware will be fooled by. Yes I do believe that.
I love
Ridley Scott's film work, all of it that I have seen. There is one film I
need to see, Robin Hood. I liked the work of Kevin Costner as Robin and thought his Robin Hood a fun watch,
but didn't love it. I absolutely love the Adventures of
Robin Hood. But I avoided Ridley's Robin Hood, as I thought it was the first of a series and wanted to go slow, for fear of
seeing something about a subject I love fail. I have been told it is great, but have been told by others, nah, not great, good maybe.
I mention this as I've
seen works recently that shook my foundations. Perhaps because of my
recent losses, my being is especially sensitive. But Kingdom Of Heaven,
is glorious, it is a work that shows imperfect beings trying to live
under rules of a perfect God. Such films might fail, but this film moved
me so deeply, I cried at every thought of the message of the film. I am
surely imperfect. I have made sooooo many errors, so many sins, so many
flaws hard born. I am a flawed man and my failures are deep, lavish,
and horrific. Despite my flaws, I aspire to know God, perhaps as the
knights and kings, commanders and warriors were shown to also attempt.
Sometimes
you are learning about movies but you are reading a book. This image
shares numerous books that are about the manifestation of Godzilla
across the globe, in serious thought, fiction and fandom. It is worth
the investment of time, but it isn't altogether important. It is just
fun.
In the present, we have war in the Middle East, war in the Crimea and Ukraine, and dozens of states and non state actors preparing for an eventual invasion of Taiwan. Japan, South Korea, US Naval Pacific Forces, and many others are uniting in efforts to coordinate their efforts. Some people with my degree areas (History of various areas of the globe, and Political Science in International Relations) are deeply involved in trying to predict, know, consider, understand the upcoming events in these and many other regions. I find interest in such events and situations, and but I more than books, cable tv and internet, I have a number of internet friends who know much more than I do about such situations and want to know my opinion. It is because of my degrees and discussion about such important situations that they are curious. They are bright. I like most of them. If I want to be "entertained by fiction" rather than horrified by the world I am finding myself living within, I read. If I am interesting to those asking the questions, I understand that why they would ask. But for me, I read, write and research. When reading for pleasure or entertainment, my preference is non fiction, but in the event of reading about wars, the enclosed image shows three fine writers.
I will someday be back and interested in the world around me. But until I stop grieving, it isn't really worth the effort. I can't escape the pain of memory and loss.
May you all be well.
All images are used as fair use, no copyright infringement is intended.
