Joe Friend: Movies

Road to Perdition

I really want to see this movie. Wonder how long it will take to come to Indonesia?

"A heaven-sent ‘Road to Perdition’. Cutting right to the chase: “Road to Perdition” is the best gangster movie since “The Godfather” — and like “The Godfather,” more than a gangster film. Reviewed by David Elliott." [MSNBC]

No dreck

Act One is a screenwriting program for Christians who don't want to write dreck.

Fundamentals of Screenwriting

Being a Christian and working in the movies is a problem or is it a solution? A solution to rediscovering our humanity. Robert K Johnston touches on this theme and many other in the book Real Spirituality. Johnston is the head of Reel Spirituality: An Institute For Moving Images at Fuller Theological Seminary and is a film reviewer for The Covenant Companion. The Fuller film program is one of the sponsors of the Los Angeles City of Angels Film Festival.

Revisiting the Oscars

I finally saw A Beautiful Mind. Now I'm watching Lord of the Rings (for the third time) on DVD. ABM was a very good movie, but it is a true injustice that LOTR didn't win best picture. Of course, my oldest son is still very unhappy that Memento wasn't even nominated for best picture. The fact that it didn't win for best original screenplay is completely baffling to both of us.

DVD encoding

I just bought a DVD player and made sure it was one that supported all regions. In Indonesia there are very few "original" DVDs available. Most of them are copies of DVDs from a variety of regions. So, you either get one that supports them all or you're messed up. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then read this article from IHT about DVD encoding. Most of what is in the article is pretty accurate, but when the author tries to explain the difference between region encoding and encryption he makes this statement of FACT:

"Regional coding is a different issue from protecting intellectual property from theft, which is a grave problem for the movie and music industries in the digital age."

I mean sure it is a grave problem, but only because they are making it one by refusing to adapt their business model to new realities.

Also, the article states that some new DVDs are being manufactured with "so-called Regional Code Enhancements" and that they will not play on multiregion players. You've got to love an industry that tries and screws the consumer at every turn.

Circuit City drops VHS movies

The non-stop march of DVD's success continues. VHS, which never caught on here in Indonesia, will be gone soon. The VCD format will hang on for a bit in Indonesia. The players are cheaper, but the cost for VCD disks vs DVD disks (copied, of course) are not that far a part and the DVD prices will be falling.

Rock & Roll Rebel

Mark Joseph, author of The Rock and Roll Rebellion, runs a great website and email newsletter. His book is about the challenge of being an artist and being a Christian and NOT being a Christian Artist. In other words, the difference of being an artist and being part of an industry. The website and newsletter focus on articles on the web that touch on this issue. He deals with music, books, and movies. It's great stuff. That said, I wish Mark would redo them both in weblog format. I loved his book and his columns, so I'd like more from him than just pointers to articles. I want his thoughts on these articles and issues. Come on Mark, jump in the water is warm.

Rethinking Dogma

I was pointed to a very interesting interview with Dogma director Kevin Smith. This guy knows his scripture and seems to have a really sincere and pretty orthodox faith. It is hard to match this up with what I know of his films. But, as usual, I don't know much first hand. Chasing Amy, Clerks, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Mallrats, and Dogma aren't movies I'd usually go to. I did see Dogma, didn't think much of it. It was interesting, but bothered me. Maybe I'm evaluating it on a very surface level? I think I'll need to see it again. So, the big question is, "Can I find it on DVD in Indonesia?" Thanks to Mark Joseph for the pointer to the interview.

DVDs I should buy

Here are some DVDs that are available in Indonesia that I should buy.

A Bridge Too Far
A Bug's Life
Braveheart
Chicken Run
Alien
Apocalypse Now
Forrest Gump
Hearts in Atlantis
Jurassic Park
Lawrence of Arabia
My Fair Lady
Planet of the Apes
Saving Private Ryan
Seven Samurai
Godfather
Godfather II
The Patriot
The Six Sense
Toy Story 1 & 2
U2 - Elevation Tour