lemonde.fr, Laurence Caramel, le 26 novembre 2009

Nicolas Hulot et la malédiction du “Titanic”

Il y eut une véritable défermante médiatique, une promotion digne d’un blockbuster, des avant-premières avec ministres et même un ancien président de la République. Puis plus grand-chose. Le film de Nicolas Hulot et de Jean-Albert Lièvre, Le Syndrome du Titanic, sorti dans 178 salles, le 7 octobre, est vite tombé dans l’indifférence, perdant plus de la moitié de son audience dès la deuxième semaine. Depuis son lancement, il dépasse à peine 250 000 entrées, une misère quand “Ushuaïa nature”, l’émission de Hulot diffusée sur TF1, attire en moyenne 5,7 millions de téléspectateurs. Premier dans la veine climatique, le documentaire de l’ancien vice-président américain Al Gore, Une vérité qui dérange, sorti fin 2006, a été vu, lui, par 741 000 spectateurs en France.

Loin de susciter le débat, la prophétie catastrophiste du reporter écolo, chouchou des Français et apprécié des politiques de tous bords, a fait office de repoussoir. Le ministre de l’écologie, Jean-Louis Borloo avait pourtant pris la peine de le défendre.

L’échec est plus ou moins assumé. L’auteur, en tournage en Afrique, n’est pas joignable. Sa fondation, au motif que “le film n’est pas son projet”, botte en touche. Le producteur Eric Altmayer, de Mandarin Cinéma, lui, ne cache pas “une petite déception”. “Nous espérions entre 400 000 et 500 000 entrées pour une sortie prévue au mois de mai. Nous avons pris du retard, et le film Home, de Yann Artus-Bertrand, lancé gratuitement et à la télévision en prime time, nous est passé dessus. Notre différence n’a pas été perçue”, explique-t-il.

Selon M. Altmayer, ce n’est pas la seule raison : “Les gens vont au cinéma comme ils vont à la pharmacie. Pour se soigner et se consoler. Voilà pourquoi Les Choristes ou Le Petit Nicolas ont du succès. C’est l’inverse de ce que propose Nicolas Hulot. On le savait, mais nous pensions que la curiosité médiatique permettrait de lancer le film.”

Trop noir, trop radical : le discours anticapitaliste et sans concession du nouvel Hulot a pris à rebrousse-poil ceux qui le trouvaient sympathique, notamment parce qu’il avait su garder une forme de neutralité politique. “Pour être populaire, il faut être consensuel. Les politiques font rarement partie de notre Top 50 des personnalités préférées des Français“, souligne Jérôme Fourquet, directeur adjoint au département Opinions de l’IFOP. En juillet, Nicolas Hulot arrivait en 7e position de ce classement, entre Mimie Mathy et Michel Sardou, et en 3e position auprès des électeurs de droite, à qui il offrait une version audible de l’écologie.

Erreur de stratégie donc ? “Non”, répond Pascal Durand, porte-parole d’Europe Ecologie, “parce que Nicolas Hulot n’est pas dans une démarche marketing. Il a fait un film d’auteur qui exprime une souffrance face à la destruction de la planète”.

Il n’empêche. Avec l’échec du Syndrome du Titanic, l’auteur du Pacte écologique va devoir s’interroger sur son positionnement. Sa popularité a, jusqu’ici, été son principal atout pour faire progresser ses idées. Mais “cet actif politique vaut-il encore s’il sort de son image de rassembleur ; cet équilibre fragile sur lequel il se tenait a-t-il atteint ses limites ?”, s’interroge Brice Teinturier, directeur adjoint de TNS Sofres.

Financièrement, les dégâts devraient être limités. Les préventes aux chaînes de télévision, Canal+ et TF1 et les fonds récoltés auprès de mécènes permettent de couvrir, en grande partie, les 5 millions d’euros de budget. “Nous finirons à l’équilibre”, prévoit Eric Altmayer. Mais la Fondation Nicolas Hulot ne touchera probablement rien des 10 % sur les bénéfices qui lui étaient destinés. Le film sortira en DVD à la Fnac et chez Virgin.

En attendant, il sera projeté, en anglais et en présence de Nicolas Hulot, à la Cinémathèque de Copenhague, le 16 décembre à 20 heures, deux jours avant la fin de la conférence des Nations unies sur le climat où la communauté internationale doit se mettre d’accord sur un plan d’action mondial contre le réchauffement. Des négociateurs ont été invités à la projection.

Berlin is a fascinating place: it is steeped in history which still resonates deeply throughout the city, from its wide boulevards around the Brandenburg Gate to its seamier quarters to the east of the wall.  The best way to orientate yourself and begin to experience the richness of the city is through one of the brilliant free walking tours.  I did one with New Berlin Tours and it was great; the guide, Mike, was funny and extremely knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was really friendly.

The majestic Brandenburg Gate

You meet close to the imposing Brandeburg Gate and spend the next three hours or so visiting all of the main attractions in the city as listed on the link above.  The new Holocaust Memorial, in the news recently after Easyjet ran fashion photographs taken there in its in-flight magazine, is a sombre and moving site, and the impact is probably sharpened by its proximity to the location of Hitler’s former bunker (which, unsurprisingly, is barely commemorated).

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The museum is a terrifying reminder of the Third Reich, and is a difficult but truly worthwhile experience.  The personal stories which are told are evocative and harrowing, and a visit leaves you very contemplative for the rest of the day and a long while afterwards.

On a happier note, the memorial is next to a strip of truly dreadful cafeterias serving up second-rate reheated drudge to budget travellers such as myself.  I had the misfortune to eat a spaghetti bolognaise served up by a guy who looked like he was from the Village People, before being chased out of the bathroom by a very small woman wielding a can of air freshener and shouting at me in German.

I spent a lot of time in Berlin running away from toilet attendants who would attempt to extort half a euro every time as I so much thought about paying a visit to the loo.  I actually sprinted out of Dunkin’ Donuts near Zoologischer Garten station one day to escape from a particularly angry man who was brandishing a tip tray at me and making vivid gestures towards the toilet.

The Hotel Adlon

Opposite the Brandenburg Gate is the Hotel Adlon, where the late great Michael Jackson famously dangled one of his children out of the window.  The Presidential Suite on the top floor costs $12,000-a-night and has bulletproof glass in the windows among its many very cool features.  If I win the lottery…

The Reichstag is the home of the German Parliament, and its roof alone makes it worth a visit.  You can look down into the chamber when parliament is in session: “a reminder to the politicians that we are always looking in on them and that they are accountable to us,” an ageing Berliner told me.  Get there early to beat the crowds, and be prepared for a very thorough (in my case, patently illegal) level of frisking.  All I will say is avoid the security guard with the handlebar moustache.

The Reichstag roof

The Berlin Wall, which collapsed 20 years ago, is an integral part of the visit, though very few parts of it remain intact and those that do are protected by fencing.  As with many parts of the city’s history, there’s a residual feeling of shame and embarrassment about it amongst the city’s residents, who you feel would rather live without the permanent reminders of their country’s past.

Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie is very artificial and one of the few attractions in the city which is a little underwhelming.  But you can take your disappointment away by heading into the unbelievably decadent Fassbender & Rausch chocolate shop which has models of things such as the Reichstag and the Titanic, all made out of chocolate.  The only thing stopping me from plunging my face straight in was concern about how long they had been there.

The Reichstag - made of chocolate

My face upon being told not to eat the Brandenburg Gate

Pergamon Museum entrance

The TV Tower - all 368 metres of it

A penguin doing his best Marilyn Manson impression

The sign marking the death march

As with the Holocaust memorial in the city, it is a very graphic realisation of the horrors of what went on there less than a century ago.  The tour around is well-constructed and allows plenty of time for personal exploration and reflection.  Imposing, thought-provoking, and with a huge underlying unease, it in many ways replicates the city itself.

'Freedom through work'

YOU SPENT HOW MUCH!?

Amidst rumors of James Cameron’s “Avatar” and its blossoming budget (over half-a-billion!?), I would like to make a point. The film doesn’t even have a rating yet. However, even thinking there is a remote possibility that it gets an R rating would be pretty wild. Hit the jump to read why.

Even conservative estimates have pegged the film with an estimated $300 million dollar budget and with that in mind, let’s look at the top domestic grossing R-rated films.

“The Passion of the Christ” raked in $370 million dollars in 2004. The next highest? 2003’s “The Matrix Reloaded” which claimed $281 million.

Now, understand these are only domestic grosses, and “Reloaded” did end up making the largest worldwide gross for any R-rated film with over $782 million. While that is a respectable number, look at a list of the highest grossing films and Cameron’s own 1997 worldwide juggernaut “Titanic” sits at the top and got damn close to bringing in 2 billion dollars in worldwide gross and had over $600 million in domestic gross alone.

The rating? PG-13.

Look at the most recent worldwide blockbuster, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”, and it cracked the billion dollar worldwide mark late in its 2008 limited return at theaters to go with $533 million in domestic.

Rating? PG-13.

Let’s say that the total production budget is in fact over $500 million dollars. That would nearly double 2007’s $258 million “Spider-Man 3″ budget, which was insane at the time.

Rating? PG-13.

If you see a trend, there is a reason. Naturally a PG-13 film, especially a blockbuster like those mentioned above and “Avatar”, stands to make a much higher gross by putting a wider range of ages in the seats compared to an R-rated film.

We should also consider that Cameron is aiming this towards 3-D. He wants to push the technology beyond a gimmick and show how it can be essential to engrossing the audience in his alien world of Pandora.

More than that, he wants to showcase the technology he has been working on for years and get even more theaters to install 3-D projectors. He wants to revolutionize the way we see films.

He wants this to be the film that everyone wants to see in 3-D. To make that extra dimension an essential part of the experience.

There is also the factor of an ever-shrinking home-video market that makes this film aimed straight at theaters. This needs to be a film that gives people an extra push to go sit in a crowded theater.

With that goal, you need a film that parents can bring their kids to. You need a film that has an enormous target audience. A film that has a PG-13 rating.

Before you shout at the screen, wailing about how watered down a PG-13 sci-fi film will be, know that mature films have been made with that same rating. “The Dark Knight” immediately comes to mind.

Others? Cameron’s own aim, to top Star Wars, is based on a franchise that has never sniffed an R rating. That rating has not diminished the films in any way.

This is why I think “Avatar” will have parents and kids lining up for 3-D showings on December 18, 2009. I also predict that the film will make back it’s production budget and usher in a franchise that might explode as Star Wars did when it first released.

Even if the film falls short of a phenomenon, Cameron’s sheer scope and ambition should be celebrated in a world of remakes and sequels.

Barco com jornalistas vira no mar durante visita de prefeitos em São Vicente

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Imagem meramente ilustrativa

Tã nã nãããããã. Tã nã nããããããããã! Tã nã nããã…

Royal Caribbean construye un barquito capaz de transportar a seismil doscientos noventa y dos (6.292) turistas y a una plantilla de dos mil ciento sesenta y cinco (2.165) empleados en un crucero de máximo lujo.

Zarpará por primera vez el cinco (5) de diciembre y cuenta con teatro, pista de hielo, feria, parques… Para aquellos que piensen en estrenarlo, facilitaré el dato de que la habitación más barata cuesta unos mil (1000) dólares ($), un precio no muy excesivo, pero a saber qué entra en el billete.

En resumen, tenemos delante un montón de hojalata de doscientas veinticinco mil (225.000) toneladas, trescientos sesenta y un (361) metros de largo y dieciséis (16) pisos, que dicen que es el buque más grande jamás construido – ya harán otro.

A este pie izquierdo se le viene a la cabeza la catástrofe del emblemático RMS Titanic, aquél barco que blah, blah, blah…

Buenos días, pies izquierdos.

Remember the hit movie “Titanic” that came out in the 90’s? The director, James Cameron, has another movie coming out next month, titled “Avatar.” I would be hard pressed to describe the story, but it looks interesting. (And judging by the 3D trailer I saw in front of “A Christmas Carol” yesterday, it looks great.) Below is an interview with Cameron from 60 Minutes. (I think there is one mild curse word in the interview, just FYI.) The most interesting part of the interview to me was the discussion near the beginning about the story vs. special effects. “Avatar” looks like a feast for the eyes, but Cameron stresses that the story is really the key element.

The most memorable movies have stories that connect with people. They may feature great visual effects, but the movies that last and are universally loved and remembered are the ones with a great story. On the other hand, movies that are long on special effects and short on story and character may do well at the box office, but are quickly forgotten. (The “Transformers” movies immediately come to mind.) Any good director will tell you that visual effects must serve the greater purpose of telling a good story.

Special effects change over time. What was innovative a few years or decades ago seems hokey and out-of-date today because of the constant advance in technology and the tastes of audiences. So visual effects aren’t bad, and in fact can be quite helpful. But they shouldn’t exist for their own sake.

It’s much the same with worship. Every tradition of worship features some form of “special effects.” These can range from the evangelical emphasis on music and technology, to the liturgical and Catholic use of vestments and bells, and to the Orthodox use of icons and incense. Every Christian worship tradition has practices and elements that help people to worship. However, they don’t exist for themselves, but rather to help us remember and enter into God’s great Story: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Re-Creation. They support, enhance, and focus worship, but they should never become the focus themselves.

This Christmas season, I encourage all of us to remember the heartbeat of Christmas: worshiping the God who gave himself unselfishly. The shopping, Christmas music, church programs, TV shows, Christmas traditions… all of those are great, but what really matters is the story of salvation embodied in a tiny child born in a manger.

I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!

…y no es chiste! Ya van a ver!

I really don’t get it. I mean, I guess I get it, but that still doesn’t make me feel better. Why, during one of the worst recessions known to mankind, is there a single franchise on pace to break every conceivable record in its industry – with a product that isn’t very good.

If you don’t know what I’m ranting about yet, it’s the Twilight phenomenon that is sweeping across America. The books are ok, not very well written (so I’ve heard) but nonetheless enthralling to its audience (in this case females aged 8 – 80.) To date, upwards of 70 million Twilight books have been sold world-wide. 70 million. Really?

Profess your love for Edward with this water bottle

The movies, compared to the books, are awful – yet millions of screaming girls (and boyfriends who I HOPE were dragged along) went and saw it last weekend with every intention on seeing it a second, third, and fourth time in the coming weeks. T-shirts, water bottles and candy all adorned with Twilight characters are flying off the shelves. Board games and trading cards are hot Christmas items. God forbid Trapper Keepers make a comeback; we’d know Edward Cullen and company would keep our notebooks safe.

Not since Leo declared “I’m King of the World” has there been such panic to see one movie, and one star (Robert Pattinson) who has so quickly become a cultural icon.

Maybe I’m getting old; maybe I’m out of touch. But maybe Twilight is reinventing the advertising landscape, where it is not only acceptable, but expected that marketers over promise and under deliver.

Try it out on your next campaign. If the Twilight formula remains true, not only would your customers be satisfied with the product – there would be a frenzy of repeat buyers. Ultimately, you would get promoted, allowing you to buy more Twilight merchandise for your teenage daughter.

A bunch of vampires. Go figure.

          The AirEgypt flight left from JFK Airport around 8:00 PM, and when we landed, it was mid afternoon the next day. That was definitely a strange feeling to have gone forward in time by an entire day. Even though it was almost Christmas (it coincided with Ramadan that year), there was a warm breeze when we stepped out of the airport. Although it did take awhile before we left the airport because my cousin’s bag was lost somewhere between her flight from Washington-Dulles Airport and the connection at JFK. So that was a good start to the trip. That first day is a bit of a blur, partially because it was years ago, and partially because despite sleeping on the plane (who really can sleep well on a plane? This was also prior to AirEgypt banning smoking in flight), I was exhausted from the trip.

        Our travel group included my mom, dad, sister, two cousins, and my aunt and uncle. The really cool thing about going to Egypt, other than the obvious fact that its awesome to have been able to go in the first place, is that my uncle is originally from Egypt, and many of his relatives live in Cairo. Because our trip coincided with Ramadan the year we went (my uncle travels back to Egypt every year during this time), we would travel to a different home each night for dinner. In retrospect, I feel kind of bad; we were so consumed with the sight-seeing and shopping that we often arrived at the designated home way after sundown. If anyone knows anything about Ramadan, one cannot eat during the daylight hours. Therefore, everyone was pretty much starving by the time sundown came, and yet they were all courteous enough to wait for the straggling Americans to arrive. My uncle’s family is huge, and there were at least 20-30 people present each night for dinner. The food was enough for an army, and there were many delicacies that I had never heard of or tried, such as stuffed grape leaves  (Dolmades in Greek) and falafel.  Needless to say, both are now some of my favorite foods. I had also previously eaten pita and hummus my entire life (I thought for a long time that it was an American food) and was delighted that it was present at every dinner!

        During the days we were in Cairo (at the beginning of our two-week trip), we visited Old/Coptic Cairo, which was once home to Cairo’s Christian community, and is home to the Church of Abu Serga, which was mentioned in previous posts. We also visited the Pyramids at Giza and The Great Sphinx. I think one of my absolute favorite parts to the trip having the opportunity to go inside a pyramid. It was eerie and breathtaking, and I remember feeling somewhat apprehensive that the entire structure could collapse and that would be it.  Obviously, people have roamed the Earth for millenia before us, but the idea that I was in a structure that was built by hand of hundreds of people thousands of years ago and that the marks in the stone, and the art of the walls were still pretty much intact was just too surreal to put into a better description. I have forever been enamored with Ancient Egyptian culture, and to actually be present at these locations to see the mummies, the hieroglyphics, artwork and sculpture had a profound and lasting impression upon me.

 On a slight tangent, I remember that almost exactly a year prior to this trip, Titanic had been released in theatres. When we were visiting with extended family, I remember how excited the kids were about having just seen Titanic, and they would play the soundtrack over and over (in Arabic), but they also knew some of the words in English. I found it interesting as well that in my uncle’s family, the younger individuals (my generation) had been learning English in school. More interesting was that the girls were in school. As most people know, in many Middle Eastern countries (and many Third World Countries in general), females do not attend school. But, as I have learned over the years (and most precisely on this trip), the more money a family has, the more likely the female children will attend school, and possibly college.

 To Be Continued…

Okej, nu har jag sett “New Moon”. Inget mästerverk men det var inte väntat. Filmen går i allafall hem hos folk eftersom den slagit rekordet i intäkter under premiärdygnet.

Först förstod jag inte varför “Twillight” och “New Moon” har blivit ett så pass stort fenomen. Men om man tittar vilka filmer som dragit in mest pengar i biohistorien så ligger “Titanic” och en massa fantasy/superhjältefilmer som “Sagan om ringen”, “Spiderman” och “Dark Knight” i topp.

Då blir det mer logiskt, att om man korsar en rejäl kärlekshistoia a ‘la “Titanic” med fantasy och superkrafter så kommer det att slå. Det är den perfekta kombinationen.

Fattar inte varför svenska filmproducenter är så tröga med att plocka upp fantasy. Vad väntar ni på? Vi har ju vättar i det här landet ju.

Gör en kärlekshistoria om en cool förortskille som blir förälskad i en vätt. Deras kärlek måste hållas hemlig eftersom det bryter mot alla samhällsnormer. Ska killen välja att lämna staden för att bosätta sig i skogen eller ska vätten flytta in hos killens 2:a i Akalla. Komplicerade ställningstaganden som garanterat gör sig bra på film. Och kom inte och säg att vättar inte kan vara sexiga, de har bara inte fått nån chans att visa det ännu.

Svensk film kan för en gångs skull bli trendsättande. Efter vampyrer och varulvar kommer vättar att regera på bioduken om jag får bestämma.

Seit James Cameron (Terminator, Aliens, Titanic) vor vielen Jahren bekannt gab, an seinem Traumprojekt AVATAR zu arbeiten, freue ich mich auf diesen Film. Am 17. Dezember ist es endlich soweit und AVATAR stürmt die deutschen Kinos. (Übrigens zeitgleich mit Spike Jonzes WO DIE WILDEN KERLE WOHNEN… der 17.12.09 ist wohl ein cineastischer Feiertag)

Bei 60 MINUTES auf CBS gab James Cameron jetzt einen interessanten Einblick in die Arbeit an AVATAR und präsentiert auch einige neue Szenen. Alles Fans sollten sich das auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen…

Viele ängstliche Zeitgenossen sehen stets den Untergang des Abendlandes voraus, wenn eine neue Ausgabe des Satire-Magazins Titanic erscheint. Mein Deutsch-LK-Lehrer (den alleine die ganzen Bindestriche in meinen Texten wahnsinnig gemacht hätten) wusste es besser und lehrte der Klasse “Satire darf alles und bewirkt nichts.” Mit dieser erweiterten Tucholsky-These ausgestattet, besuchten wir am Wochenende die Ausstellung “Titanic, das Erstbeste aus 30 Jahren” im Caricatura Museum Frankfurt.

Neben rührenden Dokumentationen, z.B. zur Fußball-WM 2006 oder über DIE PARTEI, ist die Orginal Barschel-Engholm-Wanne ein Höhepunkt dieser Werkschau. Probeliegen ausdrücklich erwünscht! Außer uns vier Spinnern hat sich aber in der Zeit unseres Besuchs niemand getraut, vom Betrachter zum Aktionskünstler zu werden, um diese historische Handlung im Selbstversuch nachzuvollziehen.

Für 5 EUR Eintritt bekommt man in diesen Tagen in Frankfurt eine kurzweilige, humoröse Perspektive auf die letzten 30 Jahre angeboten, die eines deutlich zeigt: Unser Schiff wäre in Trostlosigkeit versunken, hätten wir uns nicht den Bundeskohl geleistet!

While some writers need absolute silence to write, I need music to get the creative juices following. Here’s my top 10 albums for writing:

10. Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D

I love this piece of music. It is the musical equivalent of the Roman virtue of gravitas – dignified and solemn. How I wish I could achieve the same goosebumpyness in my writing! Bonus fact: “Beethoven didn’t finish the music until the last minute.” (gee, I wonder what that feels like…)

9. Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony

Schubert’s music is great for writing: triumphant in some moments, spooky in others. Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony even sounds like a film soundtrack. And the fact that it is an unfinished masterpiece is comforting for people like me whose hard drive is cluttered with false starts.

8. Bach’s Goldberg Variations

Wistful and lovely. Very soothing. The BBC describes the variations as taking one from the “sublime to delightfully silly.” I am a fan of the piano version, which you may recognize as the music that Hannibal Lecter air conducts in Silence of the Lambs.

7. Phillip Glass: Notes on a Scandal (Soundtrack)

I love Philip Glass’s soundtracks, and this is one of the best. Lots of intense oboes and clarinets that reflect the psychological complexity of the film. It helps me get into the heads of characters and reminds me how good intentions can go awry.

6. Vivaldi’s Violin Concertos

These short pieces for violin are a wonderful alternative for those suffering Four-Seasons-fatigue. Like a good sentence, the orchestration is crisp and precise. I often feel inspired to take different directions while listening to the taunting violins.

5. Beethoven’s Symphony No 5
This is the dur-dur-dur-dur one. Someone once said, and it might have been Niki Gemmell, that you should write as if you were dying. The dur-dur-dur-dur is Fate, knocking on Beethoven’s door, waking him from sleep. Motivating stuff if one has a deadline.

4. Mozart’s Requiem

From the pounding Rex Tremendae to sweeping sadness of Lacrymosa, Mozart’s Requiem takes me outside of myself for a while, which is ideal for the creative process.

3. James Horner: Titanic Soundtrack.

Go on. Have your snicker. Titanic is very goofy and a little familiar but I find it invaluable for creating suspense and drama. In the early stages of a manuscript, it is a time for fun and being uncritical, although you have my permission to skip the Celine Dion track.

2. Phillip Glass: The Hours Soundtrack

Like Notes on a Scandal, the sharp, repetitive themes of The Hours help me enter the interior life of the characters, even characters I thought as being minor or unlikeable. Both movies were based on books, which might explain the complex moods of the music.

And the best music for writing ever is….

1. James Horner: A Beautiful Mind Soundtrack

Whoa. I love this soundtrack – and I’ve never even seen the film! Never heard anything quite as haunting, and it always gets me in the mood for writing marathons. Don’t think there is much more I can say about how much I love it!

Warning:

NEVER listen to music while re-reading and editing. In movies, even theworst dialogue feels poignant if accompanied by beautiful music. To spot bloopers, cliches, and typos, the text must be read in unforgiving silence. (I learned this the hard way when a mediocre short story felt more wonderful than it really was.)

What do you write to? Nothing? What’s your favorite? What have I missed?

Jeg var inde og se den fantastiske effektfulde film: 2012. Wow.

Så fik jeg ideen lige at lave en liste over fede katastrofe film. Der er naturligvis film som jeg har vurderet ikke hører til katastrofe film eller hvor katastrofen ikke er stor nok til at kvalificere sig til listen. Film beskrivelsen er hentet fra bloggen: Om livet i al almindelighed – the jules rules og fra Scope.

2012.

2012

Forskere opdager at jorden snart vil gå under, og klodens ledere lægger i al hemmelighed planer for at redde sig selv og så mange andre som muligt. Jackson er på ferie med sine to børn, da han tilfældigvis opdager sandheden om den forestående undergang, og inden han får set sig om, er den hyggelige ferie ændret til en kamp mod elementerne og egoistiske samfundsspidser.

Titanic

Titanic

James Camerons romantiske storfilm – der vandt 11 Oscars – om det unge par Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) og Rose (Kate Winslet), der trods forskellige baggrunde forelsker sig få dage inden Titanic synker.

Outbreak

Outbreak

Indbyggerne i den lille californske by, Ceder Creek, bliver syge unden varsel. Ramt af en virus, som er mere smitsom og dødelig end pest. I et hæsblæsende kapløb med tiden – og hans overordnede i militæret – kæmper Dr. Sam Daniels for at finde smittebæren – og modgiften. Med bl.a. Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman og Rene Russo.

Armageddon

Armageddon

En tidlig morgen forsvinder rumfartøjet Atlantis fra NASA´s skærme, og nogle få timer senere falder en meteorregn over jorden. Men det er desværre kun begyndelsen. Med en hastighed på 35.000 km/t er en gigantisk asteroide på størrelse med Texas på vej mod jorden. Rammer den, vil det betyde jordens undergang. Med bl.a. Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, ben Affleck og Billy Bob Thornton.

Deep Impact

Deep Impact

Hvad vil du gøre, hvis du vidste, at en gigantisk komet om få dage vil ramme jorden og hele menneskeheden blive udslettet?? Nedtællingen til dommedag er i gang i dette altødelæggende overraskende brag af en filmoplevelse. Mimi Leder intruerer en række stjerneskuespillere som Robert Duvall, Tea Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Maximilian Schell og Morgan Freeman.

Kina Syndromet

The China Syndrome (1979) – (Kinasyndromet)

Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda og Michael Douglas medvirkerii Kina Syndromet en uforglemmelig advarende thrilleriom faren ved atom spaltning og TV nyhedernes enorme magtfaktor.

The Day After Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Klimatologen Jack Hall´s research peger på, at den globale opvarmning kan udløse en pludselig og katastrofal ændring af Jordens klima. De iskerner, som han har boret ud af Antarktis beviser, at det er sket før, for ti tusinde år siden. Og nu advarer han myndighederne om, at det kan ske igen, hvis de ikke griber hurtigt ind. Men hans advarsel kommer for sent. (naturligvis, ellers var der jo ikke nogen film…) Dernæst følger en række stadigt alvorligere vejrkatastrofer rundt omkring på kloden: hagl på størrelse med grapefrugter hamrer ned over Tokyo; orkaner af hidtil usete vindstyrker hærger Hawaii; der falder sne i New Delhi, og så pisker en række alt ødelæggende tornadoer igennem Los Angeles. Snefri fra skole? Det tror jeg nok!

Independence Day

Independence Day

Den engelske forfatter H.G. Wells har ikke levet forgæves. Hans over 100 år gamle sci-fi roman Klodernes Kamp har tydeligvis dannet forbillede for denne opdaterede filmudgave, instrueret af Roland Emmerich. Verden står over for en trussel fra det ydre rum i form af en hær af gigantiske rumskibe fyldt med væmmelige, gopleagtige aliens, der bestemt ikke har gode hensigter. Will Smith og Jeff Goldblum er to barske gutter, der står klar til at tage den ulige kamp op. Og det gør de godt, hvis du spørger mig.

Dante's Peak

Dante’s Peak

I den fredsomlige by Dante´s Peak frygter ingen af indbyggerne at den store vulkan, som ligger tæt på byen, skal gå i udbrud. Videnskabsmanden Harry Dalton, som er på besøg i den smukke by, kan dog mærke, at noget er galt. Helt galt. Kommunekontoret nægter at hjælpe – en redningsaktion er for omkostningsfuld, siger de. Ingen lytter dog mere til Harry Dalton end den kvindelige borgmester, men snart får de dog meget andet at lytte efter – lyden af eksploderende lava! I rollen som manden der kæmper mod naturen og de forstokkede kommunalpolitikere, ses Pierce Brosnan. Den kvindelige borgmester, Rachel Wando, spilles af Linda Hamilton.

Twister

Twister

Huse bliver flået i tusinde stykker. En brølende ko kommer flyvende gennem luften. Traktorer falder som regndråber. En 8 tons tankvogn bliver en flyvende bombe. En kilometer bred og 300 km i timen hurtigløbende naturkraft af total og fuldstændig ødelæggelse kommer imod dig.Twister er på vej til dit hjem. Helen Hunt og Bill Paxton spiller to videnskabsfolk, der forfølger den mest destruktive naturkraft, der har hærget gennem Amerikas Midvesten i 50 år. Ved at udsætte en beholder fuld af små sensorer umiddelbart foran skypumperne, håber tonadojægerne at de bliver suget op, så man kan kortlægge skypumpernes anatomi. Men for at få placeret beholderen rigtigt, bliver de to tornadojægere nødt til at komme helt tæt på, så tæt at de næsten kan røre ved deres gigantiske og lumske modstandere.

Volcano

Volcano

Los Angeles. Hjemsted for de rige og berømte. Hele verdens underholdnings-hovedstad. Englenes by. Men underneden rumler et skoldhedt helvede – nu er det klar til at bryde ud. En sprække i jordens skorpe åbner for en altødelæggende kraft. En endeløs strøm af hvidglødende lava bliver til en flod af uundgåelig død, der nu begynder at strømme gennem verdens tættest trafikerede gader mens ildkuglerne regner ned fra oven. For byens katastrofechef er det hans værste mareridt, der er blevet til virkelighed. Han har ikke set det værste endnu! Med bl.a. Anne Heche, Tommy Lee Jones og John Corbett.

Poseidon

Poseidon

Nytårsaften bliver den gigantiske luksusliner Poseidon ramt af en flodbølge af de store og vender bunden i vejret. En lille gruppe overlevende bliver fanger dybt inde i skibet og må arbejde sammen for at slippe ud af skibsvraget, der langsomt fyldes med vand. Opgaven gøres ikke lettere af, at alt er smadret og vendt på hovedet.

war of the worlds

War of the Worlds

Filmen er endnu en moderne fortolkning af H.G. Wells’ klassiske science fiction-roman, der omhandler en fantastisk kamp for selve menneskehedens overlevelse, set gennem en ganske almindelig families optik. Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) må flygte for at redde sig selv og sin familie fra en skræmmende hær af trebenede rumvæsener, der udsletter alt på deres vej. War of the Worlds er et actionspækket eventyr, der nærmest eksploderer med spektakulære specialeffekter! Men for mig bliver filmen noget ødelagt af ret dårligt skuespil og en meget irriterende hysterisk pige, der skriger hele filmen igennem. Ja, du er nok kun 10 år, men hold dog kæft, så de der rumvæsener ikke kan finde dig!!

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno (1974) (Det tårnhøje helvede)

For at fejre opførelsen af verdens højeste skyskraper, holder holdet bag en fest på øverste etage. Desværre har elektrikeren brugt dårlige materialer for at spare penge. En kortslutning sætter ild til 85. etage og pludselig er festdeltagerne på 135. etage fanget. Brandmajor O’Hallorhan og arkitekt Roberts forsøger sammen at redde gæster fra ilden.

World Trade Center.

World Trade Center

Politimændene John McLoughlin og William Jimeno er på arbejde en stille dag i New York i september, da terrorister flyver to fly ind i Word Trade Center. Sammen med andre redningsfolk kommer betjentene de indespærrede til undsætning, men ender med selv at blive fanget under murbrokkerne. Chancerne for at overleve er ikke store, men John og William nægter at give op.

The Core.

The Core

Golden Gate broen styrter sammen. Pacemakeripatienter falder døde om, ingen ved hvorfor. Fuglene mister deres stedsans. Årsagen skal findes i jordens indre – kernen er holdt op med at rotere! Det har den skræmmende konsekvens, at det magnetiske felt, som jorden er omgivet af, er ved at gå i opløsning. Et hemmeligt sted i Utah arbejder en gruppe videnskabsfolk med tiden som deres værste fjende. De får kun 3 måneder til at bygge et fartøj, der skal kunne rejse ind til jordens kerne med en atombombe, som skal genstarte kernens rotation. Som astronauter- nu terranauter- er det den kvindelige Major Beck Childs (Hilary Swank), der skal styre besætningen sikkert ind til jordens kerne og tilbage igen.

Hard Rain

Hard Rain

Byen Huntingburg trues af en oversvømmelse. Sheriffen evakuerer befolkningen samtidig med at en havareret pengetransport bliver overfaldet af en røverbande. Men transportens chauffør, Tom, stikker af med pengene, forfulgt af banden og politiet, der ikke er så retskafne som de burde være. Undervejs får Tom uventet hjælp af Karen, der prøver at holde vandmasserne ude fra den kirke, hun er ved at restaurere. Men langsomt strammes nettet om de to unge…

Daylight.

Daylight

Den underjordiske tunnel mellem Manhattan og New Jersey styrter sammen. Nogle få overlevende finder sammen i tunnelens midtersektion, der endnu holdes oppe. Men hvordan skal de komme ud? Heldigvis er der en modig taxa-chauffør (Sylvester Stallone), der ved lidt om tunnelkatastrofer og ikke står tilbage for at tage på en redningsekspedition under jorden!

Cloverfield

Cloverfield

En hyggelig fest for at fejre Robs afrejse til et fedt job i Japan afbrydes pludseligt, da jorden i New York begynder at ryste. Forvirrede og bange styrter folk op på taget af bygningen, hvor de ser en ildkugle fare gennem luften. Så rystes bygningen igen, strømmen går, panikken bryder ud. Hud har fået til opgave at lave en videooptagelse som en farvelgave til Rob, og han lægger ikke kameraet. På den måde får vi et øjebliksbillede af, hvordan panikken breder sig, når husene rystes og gaderne fyldes af støvskyer, når skyskrabere synker i grus. Hud følger en lille gruppe på flugten, men da Rob over mobilen får fat i sin elskede Beth og hører, at hun ligger fastklemt i et af de sammenstyrtede huse, ændrer han retning. Mod bedre vidende går han mod centrum af Manhattan, hvor noget stort og dødbringende er på spil. Og mod al sund fornuft går Hud og et par af vennerne samme vej. Uhh!

Supernova

Supanova

En astrofysiker har opdaget, at verdens undergang er nært forestående. Solen vil snart eksplodere og Jorden vil gå under. Mens et hold af forskere kæmper mod tiden for at forhindre, at hans dommedagsprofeti skal gå i opfyldelse, forvandles verden til et sandt inferno. Med bl.a. Luke Perry og Tia Carrere.

Sunshine.

Sunshine

Solen er ved at dø og sker det, vil det selvsagt få katastrofale konsekvenser for jorden og menneskeheden. Det største rumskib der nogensinde er blevet bygget, ICARUS II, bliver derfor sendt ud i rummet med en enorm atom nyttelast ombord, hvis formål er at gendanne de dele af solen, der allerede er gået ud. Ombord på rumskibet er en besætning bestående af otte astronauter. De kommer alle til at stå ansigt til ansigt med deres værste frygt.Sandsynligheden for at missionen lykkes synes mere og mere usandsynlig som de langsomt nærmer sig den frygtindgydende og overvældende kraft fra universets største og mest imponerende enkelte objekt – solen!

Es curioso comprobar que en las películas más premiadas del cine, la banda sonora siempre esta presente entre los diferentes galardones. Y es que la música caracteriza a cada uno de los elementos de la película y sin ella no significaría lo mismo.

1939
LO QUE EL VIENTO SE LLEVO
No se si sería el viento o la lluvia, pero el caso que esta película lo que se llevo fue diez Oscars de la Academia de catorce nominaciones a las que optava. La composición de Max Steiner para “Lo que el viento se llevo” fue nominada a la mejor música original, pero desgraciadamente ese año “El mago de Oz” se llevo la palma en esta categoría.

1959
BEN – HUR
Esta película conquisto once Oscars de doce nominaciones, superando el record de “Los mejores años de nuestra vida” con ocho estatuillas de nueve. Entre los Oscars obtenidos, Miklos Rozsa, fue premiado por la mejor música original de Ben Hur. Pero también le concedieron en el mismo año un premio BAFTA y un Globo de Oro por mejor película dramática y de aventuras. ¡Desde luego supero todas las espectativas!

1961
WEST SIDE STORY
La adaptación cinematográfica de la historia de “Romeo y Julieta” de William Shakespeare consiguió nada mas y nada menos que diez Oscars de once nominaciones. Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal fueron los responsables de la estatuilla por la mejor banda sonora en una película musical. Los Globos de Oro también quisieron premiar a West Side Story con un globo a la mejor película: musical. Esta película alcanzó tal éxito que aun sus melodías se recuerdan hoy en día en teatros de todo el mundo.

1972
CABARET
Se conoce que West Side Story abrió las puertas del éxito para películas de género musical como “Cabaret”. Basada en la novela “Adiós a Berlín” de Christopher Isherwood, fue ganadora de ocho de diez nominaciones por parte de la Academia, un Globo de Oro y un BAFTA por mejor película de género musical.

1987
EL ÚLTIMO EMPERADOR
Basada en la autobiografía de Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi, siguió los pasos de “Gigi” (1958) e hizo pleno en todas las quinielas de los Oscars, ya que ganó en las nueve categorías en las que estaba nominada. Además consiguió 4 Globos de Oro y un BAFTA.

1997
TITANIC
La verdad que la gran producción de James Cameron, basada en el desastre del transatlántico RMS Titanic, no se fue a pique como el barco, sino que se convirtió en una de las películas más taquilleras y más premiadas de la historia del cine. Once estatuillas de catorce, cuatro Globos de Oro, diez nominaciones en los premios BAFTA y un premio SAG.

2003
EL SEÑOR DE LOS ANILLOS: EL RETORNO DEL REY
Se dice que a la tercera va la vencida, y justo haciendo honor al título, han retornado como reyes para conquistar once estatuillas de once nominaciones. Además le concedieron cuatro Globos de Oro y dos Grammy, entre otros. De este modo la tercera saga de la triología de “El señor de los anillos”, sigue siendo junto a “Titanic” y a “Ben-Hur” las más premiadas de la historia de los Oscars.

O vampiro virou emo

Crepúsculo traz doses de paixão proibida e abstinência sexual para adolescentes

Rodrigo Turrer

12/12/2008 – 23:43 – Atualizado em 17/12/2008 – 16:19

Foi-se o tempo em que os vampiros encarnavam o Mal. As cíclicas repaginações do personagem já criaram dentuços ridículos e apaixonantes. A última das várias releituras aconteceu em 1997. O seriado Buffy transformou uma vítima em potencial, a loiríssima atriz Sarah Michelle Gellar, em vingadora das donzelas sugadas em filmes de terror. Agora, quem vai enquadrar os vamps ao espírito dos novos tempos é Crepúsculo, versão para o cinema da saga-fenômeno Twilight, da escritora Stephenie Meyer. O filme quebrou recordes de arrecadação e bilheteria nos Estados Unidos e deve causar estrondo similar quando estrear no Brasil, no dia 19. O frenesi está atrelado ao sucesso da saga Crepúsculo, que deu sangue novo ao mercado editorial para adolescentes, vendeu 7 milhões de cópias e foi traduzido para 20 línguas.

Assim como o livro, o filme começa com a mudança de Isabella Swan (a novata Kristen Stewart) da ensolarada Phoenix para a chuvosa Fork. Retraída e ensimesmada, Bella tenta se adaptar à mudança para a cidade provinciana e para a nova escola. É quando conhece Edward Cullen (o galã emergente Robert Pattinson, que atuou em Harry Potter), um fascinante rapaz com seis palmos de topete que parece não se bronzear há séculos. A ciclotimia de Edward atormenta Bella: ora ele lhe lança olhares chamejantes, ora parece sentir repulsa. Intrigada, Bella investiga a vida do amado e o força a contar a verdade. Edward se transformou em vampiro em 1918 pelos caninos de Dr. Carlisle Cullen, uma espécie de Drácula benemérito que só mordisca moribundos para salvá-los da morte. Assim fez com sua mulher, Edward e outros quatro jovens. É a grande família Cullen, um clã de vampiros atípico: sem dentões e que não são incinerados quando expostos ao sol. Ao contrário, cintilam como diamantes. E, digamos, quase vegetarianos: renunciaram ao sangue humano para se alimentar de animais. Chupa-cabras do Bem. Por isso Edward é tão vulnerável a Bella. O apetitoso aroma de seu sangue desperta nele o desejo de abocanhá-la. Edward vive uma batalha contra a tentação – o furor hormonal próprio dos 17 anos que ele conserva, mesmo com 104 anos.

O roteiro do filme dá substância à prosa anêmica e prolixa de Stephenie Meyer. Salpica aventura e suspense, mas o que importa mesmo é o amor dos protagonistas – uma versão abstinente de Leonardo Di Caprio e Kate Winslet em Titanic. Tanto o filme quanto os livros da saga exalam sensualidade enquanto parecem dizer que a negação dos desejos é uma virtude. “Cresci num ambiente em que não era exceção ser boa moça, e meus namorados eram respeitosos”, disse Stephenie a ÉPOCA. “Isso afeta a maneira como escrevo.” Crepúsculo é uma fábula de paixão proibida, privação e provação. Responde aos anseios das garotas da geração W (também chamada de geração do milênio, dos nascidos entre 1980 e 2000): adolescentes e pré-adolescentes ultraconectadas na internet, antenadas e um tanto puritanas. É um conto de fadas sob medida para quem outro dia sonhava com o mundo de Harry Potter e suspirava pelo galã Zac Efron, de High School Musical.

Edward Cullen personifica esses desejos. É romântico, meigo, carinhoso… e recatado. Protege sem exigir nada em troca, nem as típicas apalpadelas dos rapazes. Na única cena de beijo do filme (e do livro), Edward diz: “Não posso ir longe demais com você, tenho de me controlar”. Ambos estão no quarto dela, deitados na cama. Ela adormece. Ele passa a madrugada adorando o rosto de Bella – só o rosto. Edward é um amante à moda antiga talhado para as novas gerações de adolescentes românticas. Sensível e com poderes sobrenaturais, é o perfeito vampiro emo. Alguma dúvida de que o filme vai virar uma febre?

http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Revista/Epoca/0,,EMI19347-15220,00-O+VAMPIRO+VIROU+EMO.html

]]> http://leadingforachange.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/sweat-the-small-stuff-what-really-sank-the-titanic/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:48:08 +0000 ralphjacob http://leadingforachange.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/sweat-the-small-stuff-what-really-sank-the-titanic/

Last week I went to see the Titanic exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota. What a treat. To see the artifacts in such wonderful condition after so many years at the bottom of the ocean was a remarkable experience.

 What was most intriguing to me was to learn one of the little known facts about why the ship and its passengers met its tragic fate. Yes I knew it was traveling too fast for the conditions. Yes, I knew the ship speed was, “slow forward,” even though the captain ordered it to  idle. What I did not know was that the sailor in the bird’s nest was able to see only as far as his eyeglasses allowed.

 Despite all the extra safety precautions such as the extra armor, extra compartments with doors that sealed, modern hydraulic systems and engines and the largest girth in history, the one item they forget to pack was…binoculars.

 Unfortunately, all the attention went to the detail of taking care of the passengers: Fine china and silver for the first class passengers, wonderful food for even the second class passengers, and the best third-class accommodations at that time. But binoculars and sufficient number of life boats were not considered a high priority.

 Who said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff?” Tough lessons for some of us (like me) who prefer to focus on the big picture. Leadership lessons?

 Change is tough because we never know what is really important…what we have to have in our bags somewhere further down the journey

• Don’t forget the basics when implementing change. Focus on both the day-to-day and the long-term
• The Captain’s orders are not always properly received or followed. The disconnect between layers of management or between functions is an unfortunate. It is a persistent and ubiquitous  consequence of organization life. The interference between intent and action can derail the best plans
• Large size is in and of itself a weak insulator from the external changes. Constant reinvention is a necessary precursor for long term success…
• Yet, change is also fraught with danger

 If you have the time and opportunity, I can recommend the exhibit.

What are some examples when the small stuff has gotten in the way of your success?

Post by Katherine Fairman

The other day I was at a school getting ready to begin the morning assembly when a volunteer approached me. He was the grandfather of two students. He said he had a story for me.

He told me that a few years ago his daughter went on a field trip with his granddaughter’s class. As a result, she needed someone to watch her youngest son. The gentleman agreed to take him for the day. He asked if she minded what they did on their day together. She said she did not, and his response was “Well I’m taking him to COSI!”

He then told me how he and his grandson “opened and closed the place”. Together they explored our exhibits, had lunch in the Atomic Café, and walked through the traveling Titanic exhibit. (Which will be back here in March 2010!) They both had a terrific day. On the drive home, the gentleman noticed his grandson lying down in the back seat with his eyes closed. He asked, “Are you sleeping back there?” The boy said “No, I’m just remembering all the fun stuff we did together today.” The gentleman told me this response brought a tear to his eye.

It makes me so happy the ways in which COSI brings families and friends closer together. I hope that one day I will have a similar experience with my grandchildren.

Tadi pagi saya baru saja melihat di sebuah koran dalam negeri “Suara Pembaruan”, sebuah berita mengenai peluncuran kapal pesiar terbesar di dunia. Oasis of The Seas, begitu kapal besar ini disebut. Menurut yang saya baca tadi pagi, kapal ini berukuran 2.5 kali lebih besar dibandingkan kapal Titanic yang tenggelam akibat bertabrakan dengan gunung es pada Tahun 1912 dan mengorbankan kurang lebih 1.500 nyawa dan menjadikannya sebagai bencana laut terburuk sepanjang sejarah. Oasis of The Seas dapat menampung total penumpang 6.300 jiwa dan memiliki fasilitas super lengkap. 2700 kamar tersedia dengan fasilitas bermacam-macam. Kolam renang, arena olah raga, arena berjalan kaki, taman kota, tempat fitness, bar, club malam, teater, cinema, restoran dengan masakan manca negara, mall, bahkan sampai lapangan mini golf pun ada di dalam kapal ini. Kapal ini berukuran panjang 360 Meter dan lebar…[maap saya lupa lebar nya, harus nya tadi koran nya saya bawa ya] Kapal ini akan berlayar untuk yang pertama kali untuk umum pada tanggal 01 desember 2009, dengan harga tiket sekitar 600 dollar atau Enam Juta Rupiah perKepala.

“wah wah wah..lebih besar 2.5x dari Titanic..Semoga aja tu kapal aman2 aja deh..kan sayang uda dibangun susah2 klo tenggelem kaya Titanic gitu..tapi di sisi lain ntar kalo kejadian kaya Titanic bakalan ada film nya donk.. Harga tiket nya 6 Juta..Koq nggak terlalu mahal ya..Apa gw salah baca ya? perasaan sih 600 dollar..kalo gak 600 dollar, gw inget nya 600.000 dollar..ah gila kalo 600.000 dollar itu sama aja 6M..sapa yang mau naek..iya bener ahh 600 dollar..

1912 Titanic Mystery (62 MB download)
A bomb is aboard the Titanic II on its maiden voyage, launched on the one-hundredth anniversary of the fatal Atlantic crossing. Find the bomb and save the ship and all aboard. Interact with different characters, discovering hidden diary entries and a century old mystery from the original Titanic. This multifaceted storyline offers a tale of lost love and reunion, challenging puzzles, and imagery lovingly recreated from original photographs!

Nessa última quarta a tarde fui assistir 2012.

Local: Norte Shopping. Eu sei, péssima escolha geográfica. Mas entendam, quando estamos acompanhados, qualquer lugar pode ficar interessante… #ficadica =p

Pois bem, tirando o fato de que eu comecei a cultivar um pequeno rancor pelo Banco Real e que eu não tinha dinheiro nem pra pegar o metrô, entramos no cinema com aquela coisa horrível que o Mc Donald’s continua vendendo com o nome de “comida” e esperamos por aquele que deveria ser o filmão do momento (afinal de contas todo dia eu encontro um idiota que diz “ué, de que adianta isso se o mundo vai acabar em 2012?”). Decepção TOTAL. Listo os motivos.

1 – Se você for ao cinema querendo ver mistérios arqueológicos no estilo Indiana Jones de fazer filmes, melhor nem sair de casa pra não matar um na saída do cinema. Eles falam dos Maias UMA VEZ durante as 3 HORAS de filme. Pois é, a coisa toda é baseada na profecia maia e eles cagaram solenimente pra esse fato. Imagina COMO EU FIQUEI quando percebi isso…

2 – Os efeitos são divertidos. Tem que se dar algum crédito, já que aparentemente todos os recursos foram investidos nisso. Mas não se engane, não é nada que bons estudantes de computação gráfica com bom financiamento e uma boa equipe não consigam fazer. Hollywood não é mais a mesma… Aliás, o elenco é PÉSSIMO! Pra vocês terem uma idéia, o ator mais bonito do filme aparece em umas 3 cenas e morre. Um filme desses está fadado ao fracasso.

3 – O filme é… longo. Muito longo. 3 horas e alguns quebrados se não me engano, e não passa rápido não. Referências à tudo: desde a Biblia até Titanic, passando por Independence Day e um toque das piadas fora de contexto de Jurassic Park. Em um dado momento eu achei que estava vendo “O dia depois de amanhã” só que com atores diferentes, pra vocês verem o nível da cópia. Sem contar que, apesar de ser um filme, eu como bom geógrafo que pretendo ser não consegui engolir essa história de que “a crosta terrestre derreteu por emissões estranhas do sol ocasionadas pelo alinhamento de uns planetas”! Ah, me poupe, arrumem uma desculpa melhor… Até alienigenas ficaram mais interessantes no Indiana Jones, peçam ajuda ao George Lucas que ele sabe como fazer.

4 – Algo que nos interessa muito: a cena do Rio de Janeiro. Em tempos de escolha do Rio tanto pra sede das olimpíadas quanto a melhor cidade gay do mundo, o mínimo que poderiam ter feito eram cenas de verdade com a cidade. Nem isso. O que aparece mesmo é o Cristo se despedaçando e só. E digo mais: a personagem vê isso PELA TELEVISÂO! O filme todo se passa nos EUA (pra variar) e o final é na China (sério, deu uma vontade absurda de escrever um artigo sobre geopolítica e cinema só por essa escrotice). Eu lá, todo esperançoso de ver a minha cidade ser destruída pelo mar e o que aparece é o aquele monte de concreto se desmoronando pela televisão, aí não dá, tive que rir.

5 – Por fim, se você está pensando que o filme pelo menos tem uma história, pensou errado. NADA de história. Nada mesmo, é uma família que tem que sobreviver no meio desse samba do criolo doido que eles inventaram de eventos cósmicos e cismicos e oceânicos e blá. Pra não dizer que a coisa não tem diretriz NENHUMA, eu digo que eles seguiram a bíblia, a parte que fala da Arca de Noé. É isso mesmo, eu não estou brincando.

O ponto positivo disso tudo? Bom, tirando o fato de ver o filme com uma pessoa agradável ao meu lado, teve um único ponto realmente interessante que o filme conseguiu abordar assim, de leve: Como seria o arranjo político entre os países caso o mundo realmente estivesse acabando? Será que eles esqueceriam as guerras, o dinheiro, o poder, e se concentrariam em salvar o maior número de pessoas possível? A humanidade realmente merece viver caso não consiga pensar no próximo mesmo nesses momentos? É algo que fica pra pensar… e também é a ÚNICA COISA que fica pra pensar, já que nem dos Maias eles falaram né…

Vejam o filme e comentem, porque eu ODIEI. Coisa realmente pipoca, desnecessária e longa. Muito longa.

…time to start strategizing for that annual test of taste, that carnival of consumerism, Holiday gift shopping.

source: Amazon.co.uk

Happily,  Jolyon Fenwick and Marcus Husselby have ridden to the rescue with a guide to the perfect gift for those one one’s list for whom it’s not the thought that counts:  Einstein’s Watch: Being an Unofficial Record of a Year’s Most Ownable Things…

From the publisher’s description:

What is the value of Gandhi’s glasses or a collection of Braille editions of Playboy? And how much is an artwork consisting of ten million $100 banknotes worth? In this gloriously eclectic overview of 2009’s most ownable objects, Jolyon Fenwick and Marcus Husselby present a treasure trove of over 100 desirable things bought or offered for sale this year. Ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, the cache of curios includes: a hard disk of MPs’ expenses over the last five years; Einstein’s watch; Uncle Monty’s cottage from Withnail and I; the last ever cheque issued by Woolworths (it bounced); a holy water sprinkler (made by Parker pens); official posters from the Obama campaign; Captain Cook’s boomerang; Super Lemon Haze marijuana; Black Canary Barbie (described as ‘filth’ by Christian Voice [pictured on the book's cover]); and, the key to the binoculars storeroom on board the Titanic.

source: Designs Through Process

As we scrawl “Dear Santa,” we might note that today’s a great day to March right down the Middle, in honor of Victorian novelist, poet, and translator George Eliot– Mary Ann Evans– who was born on this date in 1819 in Warwickshire.

George Eliot