Category: movies

Archive for the ‘movies’ Category

Slumdog Millionaire

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Slumdog Millionaire is 5 Stars if you don’t squirm out of your seat and leave in the first half - a few people did. This movie is brilliant, but heavy cause it is not afraid to be real while the whole time portraying a fanciful story line. The journey is worth it, but the journey is rough. This movie makes me want to talk but I should shut up until you have seen it. This movie will be over looked. Don’t let it slip by.

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Can water run out?

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

This is a very interesting looking doco about the future of Water. It is said that one day we will be fighting wars over water. Man I hope it doesn’t come to that, it would be a real failing of our society. At Urban Grind I have always said, “Never deny anyone the opportunity to a glass of water or to use the toilet.” What goes around comes around and I might be real thirsty one day and having to rely on the kindness of my fellow man.

Posted in environment, movies, peace, politics | 1 Comment »

Machuca

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

Just finished watching a movie called Machuca. It was recommended by Karen as one of the movies that we could be lending out from the shop. In itself the movie was great. I am no movie reviewer so all I can really say is that I think it was really well made. What stuck me about the movie was the theme of hatred. It is not the first movie to depict such racial/political/class/etc hatred but this time I thought I might blog my thoughts on hatred.

Besides Internet Explorer I pretty much don’t feel hatred for anything or anyone these days. I used to feel a lot of hatred though, once upon a time - for people mostly. It made me feel powerful even though I know now it was a power that was born in fear. It was an illusionary power that was week in nature and never prevailed. It did not serve me in the end. So to a degree I can understand it when a person hates, but when a culture hates I can’t identify with that on a personal level.

I guess that I am lucky to have never had hatred for another culture instilled in me although in recent times there have been attempts. And just so my government knows. I don’t buy the scare campaigns. I will decide one by one my trust for another person and should a person do me wrong, I will not condemn a whole culture for it.

So in the movie there is this cultural hatred that escalates into violence and ultimately a military coup. And I think to myself for a minute that I am lucky to live in a country where there may be racism and cultural hated but it is mild and it is kept to oneself mostly. I quickly call myself a ‘Sheltered Wanker’ to start with, because I bet there is plenty of cultural hated out there that is affecting people in real and damaging ways everyday. Either I am fortunate or I don’t see it because I am not contributing to it. Then I remember Detention Centres - I do see it, it is just too easy to forget.

But here is the point I am trying to get at. From good soil good food grows. From poor quality soil that is laden with toxic chemicals things still grow, even things that look pretty much the same as things that grow healthy but they are not healthy. Hitler was a plant growing in a soil that let him be the person he was. And there are many other examples like this one. Is the soil to blame? That is, are the people to blame? I am going to go with Yes. But I say it with empathy. I heard it explained once that Hitler’s ‘emergence’ can be traced back along a chain of events. Unchecked sledging that becomes ok on a day to day level makes small things that should not have been ok, ok. And once the small things seem ok it makes the bigger things seem ok too, and on and on until no one remembers how it started. What kind of soil are we? What kind of leaders will emerge from us? Sorry for the long winded analogy - emergence is the key word. Responsibility belongs to us.

I don’t understand all of the details but someone suggested to me once on this topic that Pauline Hanson was Australia’s test and we passed. Maybe, not sure. You might know better - use the comments. I do like the idea though that for all our superficial cultural hatred, if called on it we would walk the other way.

By the way, in the soil analogy there is usually a farmer…

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Pangea Day 08

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Today started at 2:30am for me and my family. Today was World Pangea Day. Which is an event designed to bring the people of the world together by helping us to look at our similarities instead of our differences. Our local event was hosted by map magazine in their office in Newstead. We all started arriving from about 3am onwards for a 4am start. You see the idea was to get as many people as possible around the world watching the same world changing films at the same time. This meant a 4am start for Brisbane.

The show started right on time. It was a seamless effort and for me a very emotional experience that was very hard to pull away from. I was supposed to leave early but couldn’t. I now can’t wait for the next Pangea Day. I strongly urge you to visit the Pangea Day website where you can watch all of the films that were shown during the event and even reply the event which is well worth the 4 hours.

If you do find it inspiring then head to TED.com where it all started. TED is also a great way to keep the conversation going.

Tags: friends, peace
Posted in alternative media, environment, family, friends, funny, inspiring, local community, movies, peace | No Comments »

Money as Debt

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

I am not quite sure what to say about this one other than that we should all probably know about it. I think I tried asking some people recently where all the money comes from and who controls its flow and creation. I am shown again that if you start asking questions you start getting answers. Which is why I have always advised people to be very careful about the questions you ask. For it is the answers that can lead you to believe that ignorance is bliss. And in the short term it is bliss. But what if you are floating in a bubble and that bubble is bliss full, but then the bloody thing bursts. That tends not to be as much fun. Of course we don’t usually notice cause it usually bursts on the next generation.

Anyway, if you dare to ask the money question. This might just be the answer:
Money as Debt

Posted in movies, politics | 5 Comments »

The Kite Runner

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Want a free double pass to see The Kite Runner this Wednesday night the 16th of January 2008 at 6:30pm. Cinema 9 BCC Indooroopilly?

If so here is what you have to do. Answer a 2 part question.

Some background info.
The Kite Runner was co-financed by Participant Productions and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Using our Contact form I want you to tell me:
Who is the Founder of Participant Productions?
What is the link to his talk on www.ted.com?

I have 2 double passes to give away which can be picked up from Urban Grind before 4pm this Wednesday. Ability to pick up the tickets is a requirement of entry.

Bonus Question for the winners: What is the Ebay item that is mentioned at the end of the talk? (Basically I want you to watch the talk. Give us something very cool to talk about over the free coffee that I am going to give you for answering the bonus question correctly).

And even if you don’t want to or can’t see The Kite Runner on that night please do the exercise anyway. I promise you will be enriched.

Posted in customers, inspiring, movies, peace | No Comments »

An 11th Hour Opportunity

Monday, November 19th, 2007

See the 11th hour before it goes off the big screen.

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farmer john is coming to town

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Food Connect is proudly hosting farmer John Peterson and two special movie screenings of his award winning film on Dec 1st at Ahimsa House, Horan Street, West End.

Screening Times: 5:30pm & 8:30pm.
$60 - Families (2 adults & 2 children),
$25 - Adults,
$20 - Concession/Student Cards,
$15 - Under 15’s
$10 - Over 5’s

Call Food Connect for further details and bookings: (07) 3216 7555

Oh and while you are at it. Sign up for Food Connect. They are our local example of what the movie is all about - Community Supported Agriculture.

Posted in environment, inspiring, local community, movies, peace | No Comments »

Freedom Writers

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

Now I know what you are thinking because I was thinking it too. You’re thinking ‘Hasn’t Michelle Pfeiffer has already done that one?’ Freedom Writers is one of those Female teacher saves the gang kids movies. As much as I kind of love those stories, I found myself side-stepping this one for weeks at the video shop, and to be honest if it wasn’t for $1 movie night and a choice between Freedom Writers and Mark Wahlberg in Shooter I still might not have got it out.

We loved it. It is a great story. So much more than we were expecting. It is inspirational and well acted (I thought). It is a heart string pulling tear jerker but personally I like a movie that moves me. I hope that you get to see it, especially you Micky. If any of you do happen to miss it I will be getting it for the shop, as I really do think it is worth it.

Posted in inspiring, movies, peace | 1 Comment »