about my Scandinavian classes...

People keep asking me about this.

It all started with Woody Allen, my hero. His major, major influence was Ingmar Bergman, a Scandinavian director, and so last semester, I took a Film 151 class that focuses on Bergman and his career. Throughout, I watched about 15 Bergman films, and boy they were amazing! Some standouts include Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal, Persona, Winter Light, Fanny & Alexander, etc.

Bergman films really, really beautiful stuff. Most of them are in black and white (he was reluctant to move on to color), and they looked really gorgeous. In fact, Bergman heavily uses the brilliant cinematographer, Sven Nykist, whom Woody Allen has also stoken to film Crimes and Misdemeanors. Bergman also heavily utilizes now one of my favorite actors -- Max van Sydow -- whom Allen also used, to great effect, in Hannah and Her Sisters. Bergman's films, though, are very depressing -- as are, it seems, most films that I enjoy. In fact, through a semester of watching Swedish films, the only Swedish word I've learned means "nothing".

In any case, I fell in love with Bergman. And then I found that one of his major influences is August Strindberg, a Scandinavian playwright. The same professor is teaching a course on Strindberg this semester, so naturally I jumped on it. I have not yet been disappointed; Strindberg is every bit as bizarre as Bergman and Allen, if not more. He is relentlessly intellectual -- and a woman hater. I'll talk about him next time.

And hence, this is my journey climbing up from Allen to Bergman to Strindberg in search for the root of genius.

Actually I also raised my hand once today in my Scandinavian class. I was hoping to just drop the question and let the professor run with it. Unfortunately, the professor was overjoyed that I even participated, and started hammering me with more questions. Background information: last semester (when I took another class from her) she told me that though I had perfect attendance, I did not have perfect participation. She was right.

Go Radiohead Decal!

Well, I audited this Radiohead decal course last semester, and I'm doing it again this semester. You can never get enough Radiohead.

But the people this semester are far more interesting. Last semester, the class constantly seemed like a crickets exhibit. This time, people talk and discuss and actually offer a lot of insight and trivia. Hell, even I was moved enough to offer some thoughts. And that doesn't happen much.

Everyone asks, what does that man say at the end of the Just video? Some of my favorites are "There's a really cool sound underground" or "I've never seen the city from this angle". But why do we insist on knowing? Once something is spoken -- once it is put into words -- once it is mortalized -- it becomes weak, debatable. It becomes just another claim, just another assertion, and invites arguments and other opinions. It loses a lot of power. And obviously, there's nothing Radiohead can put into the mouth of that man that would justify everyone lying down; yet by not doing exactly that, Radiohead hints at a deeper something that we're all missing. And that's powerful.

Similar with other things. For example, Radiohead songs like Pyramid Song, How To Disappear, etc., all move me deeply. But if someone asks me why, I wouldn't be able to say. I know why; I feel why. But I also know that once I say it out loud, it's going to sound cheesy, silly and melodramatic, and all the power will be gone.

"You've gotta feel."

and then...

I feel better now. Maybe I should just wash my face more.

thought

Sometimes it's astounding to note how miserable a failure I am. Why do I have to be so fucking neurotic? Why do the smallest things set me off? Why can't I do anything right when it counts? This semester is a one-way express ticket to a nervous breakdown. And I don't even know why.

Movies of 2004 Update

In case I forget, here's the updated list so far:

Best of 2004:
1. Eternal Sunshine
2. Dogville
3. Kill Bill: Volume 2
4. Spiderman 2
5. Harry Potter 3
6. Collateral
7. Fahrenheit 9/11
8. Shrek 2

A few notes:

Collateral is just wonderful. Michael Mann crafts such a moody and mourful piece, depicting the hypnotic nightmare that is LA. Yes, the plot line is predictable, and the last chase scene is way too long, but in certain parts, the movie drags. Yet the characters are all lovable, and Jamie Foxx especially turns in a surprisingly sympathetic performance. His first exchange with the girl in the cab is absolutely priceless; it's one that makes me drop my jaw and just marvel at the beauty of a perfectly-written, perfectly-performed and perfectly-directed scene.

Moved Kill Bill 2 above Spiderman 2 because KB2 stood up to a second viewing better. I think I'm going to be switching these two around all year long.

For some reason I forgot to put in Harry Potter before.

Movies I'm dying to watch:

Hero -- this should easily make top ten

Donnie Darko: Director's Cut -- if this is just exactly as good as the original, it will make number 2 on this list.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow -- this looks stunning, and I'm a sucker for Indiana Jones-like adventures. Early word of mouth is amazing.

The Incredibles -- PIXAR!!!!!!! Directed by Brad Bird, Pixar newbie but the director behind The Iron Giant, one of the best 2D animated films EVER! I cannot stress how excited I am.

Shark Tales -- Dreamworks' next entry to the animation market. It doesn't look as great in the trailers as, say, Finding Nemo (certainly the animation is not as beautiful), but Dreamworks usually pulls through. I'm a little skeptical, though...

By the way, I'm predicting a boring Oscar season this year.

Bad jokes

My Godsister told me a particularly lame joke the other day:

Two bananas are walking outside. It's a really hot day, so the first banana took off his clothes. The second banana fell.

So I countered with a better version:

Two tomatoes are walking outside. It's a really hot day, so the first tomato took off his clothes. The second tomato raped him in the ass.

Mine is funnier.