Kagemusha

Kagemusha is a 1980 Akira Kurosawa film. Takashi Shimura has a small role in this, his last, film. This Criterion edition of the movie is 3 hours long. That's long. I'm glad this was not my first Kurosawa experience.

trailer:

Roger Ebert likes it. Entertainment Weekly has a short review. Variety says, "Kurosawa, at 70, shows himself young indeed in the impressive handling of this historical drama". DVDTalk calls it "a truly under appreciated masterpiece," adding,

Kagemusha is hardly the best Kurosawa film to start with (go out and grab The Seven Samurai or Yojimbo if you've yet to be initiated into his world) as it unfolds at a fairly slow pace and at three hours in length it might try the patience of those unfamiliar with the way that the man made movies. But for more seasoned viewers, it doesn't get a whole lot better than this.

The New York Times says,

Kagemusha is probably the director's most physically elaborate, most awesome film, full of magnificent views of lines of mounted soldiers slowly crossing grand landscapes or galloping along seashores, against sunsets of a magnificence that seems to foreshadow the end of the world. Kagemusha is majestic, stately, cool, and, in many of its details, almost abstract. It appears very much to be the work of a director who, now seventy years old, is no longer concerned with the obligations of conventional drama or even with moral questions. He is, instead, contemplating history, not as something to be judged but, rather, acknowledged and, possibly, understood.

Aguirre, the Wrath of God

Aguirre, the Wrath of God is a 1972 German film directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski. The music is by Popol Vuh. The film is on Time's list of 100 best films.

This is one of those films that really needs to be seen on a larger, better-quality screen than I have, but the entire film is available on youtube:


The film is one of Roger Ebert's "great movies". He calls it "one of the great haunting visions of the cinema". Senses of Cinema has an article. Slant Magazine says the film "stands a mythic portrait of colonial conquest run amok". The New York Times says, "This is a splendid and haunting work." Images Journal says it's "a stunning film that brought him attention from film circles around the globe." FilmReference.com has its usual extensive list of resources and describes it as "Herzog's hypnotic epic of megalomania and delusional myths". The Guardian's reviewer opens with this:

Here is a true classic, a gem from an era of high-wire cinema, a cinema of breathtaking ambition - a film about a folie de grandeur , the making of which has passed into cinema lore as hardly less daring, and hardly less mad, than its subject matter.

The movie has its own Facebook page.

HT: Film Studies for Free

7/5/2009: Parallax View has a review.
6/1/2010: Only the Cinema has an article that includes still shots and describes the movie as "a poetic, dream-like film".

The Knight of the Swords

The Knight of the Swords is the first in Michael Moorcock's "swords trilogy" featuring Corum, the Prince in the Scarlet Robe. I had picked up the 2nd and 3rd in the series some time ago, and The Younger Son found this one for me the last time we went to the used book store. You can see the cover of my edition here. It won the Derleth Award in 1972. This reminds me just a bit of Conan. I'm looking forward to the next 2.

from the back of the book:

By creating Man, the universe had betrayed the old races. Spreading like a pestilence across the Earth. Man destroyed the Vadhagh and the Nhadragh, the ancient peoples. Only Vadhagh Prince Corum remained to raise his sword, to avenge the slaughter of his family and race, to battle the unjust fate of a blind and deaf universe...

Moorcock has a Facebook page.

R.I.P. J. G. Ballard

Locus reports the death of J.G. Ballard.

obits:
BBC
TimesOnline
Telegraph
Guardian
SFSignal
BoingBoing here and here
io9 here and here
Jeff VanderMeer
SFScope
SFFMedia
Bright Lights After Dark
Cinematical
The Independent

Panic in Year Zero!

Panic in Year Zero! is a 1962 post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by and starring Ray Milland, an Academy Award winning actor from The Lost Weekend, Dial M for Murder and Beau Geste. Also starring are Jean Hagen and Frankie Avalon. The music (by Les Baxter) is a lot of fun.

trailer:


DVDTalk says, "actor-director Ray Milland keeps the dramatic tension high". Moria calls it "a repellent film in most regards" and says,

Along with the British No Blade of Grass (1970) [which I watched here], Panic in Year Zero! represents the libertarian survivalist fantasy at its most brutal.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

(KJV)

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)

Great 90's Sci-Fi Movies

Listverse has a list of the 20 best sci-fi movies from the 1990's:

20 The Arrival 1996

19 eXistenZ 1999

18 Contact 1997

17 The Fifth Element 1997

16 The Truman Show 1998

15 Star Trek: First Contact 1996

14 Men in Black 1997

13 Jurassic Park 1993

12 Edward Scissorhands 1990

11 La Cité des enfants perdus (The City of Lost Children) 1994

10 Twelve Monkeys 1995

9 Galaxy Quest 1999

8 Gattaca 1997

7 Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade 1999

6 π (or: Pi) 1998

5 The Matrix 1999

4 Dark City 1998

3 Open Your Eyes 1997

2 Ghost in the Shell 1995

1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991

Ones I've seen are in bold print.

HT: SFSignal

Beat Not the Bones

Beat Not the Bones by Charlotte Jay is the first book awarded an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Published in 1952 and featuring conflict between white Australians and Papuan natives, it's not as dated as one might fear. In fact, I enjoyed this book. I liked the plotting and the way the characters were gradually revealed, and I was drawn into the lives of the characters and the into the setting. I will probably look for more by this author.

from the back of the book:

A young Australian woman comes alone to Marapai on the island of New Guinea to find out why her husband, a distinguished anthropologist in charge of protecting the natives from exploitation, committed suicide. It is hard for her to believe that drink and debt, the common causes of despair among the Australians stationed in the protectorate, could have affected David Warwick. As she meets those who knew him, Stella learns more than she ever dreamed of about the lure of gold and the magical means used by the Papuans to protect themselves. But she must penetrate deep into the heart of the jungle to solve the mystery of her husband's death.

Popeye

Popeye is a 1980 film version of the old Popeye animated cartoons. This is directed by Robert Altman and stars Robin Williams in his first film and Shelley Duvall in the role she was born to play. Ray Walston (who has a Star Trek connection) plays Popeye's pappy, and Paul Dooley (also with a Star Trek connection) plays Wimpy. Richard Libertini is another actor here who was in Star Trek. Swee'Pea is played by Altman's grandson. We really like this movie.

You can see Olive Oyl singing He's Large here:


Here's the scene where they find Swee'Pea:


Roger Ebert calls it "lots of fun". Slant Magazine has a positive review. DVDTalk has a mixed review, calling it "certainly too good-natured a film to actually hate". The New York Times says it

is a thoroughly charming, immensely appealing mess of a movie, often high-spirited and witty, occasionally pretentious and flat, sometimes robustly funny and frequently unintelligible. It is, in short, a very mixed bag.

Moria says,

I must join the chorus of those praising Robert Altman’s Popeye. Popeye is a film that is at times difficult, but eventually holds persistent charm.

Escape from New York

Escape from New York is a 1981 science fiction movie directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton and Adrienne Barbeau (who has a Star Trek connection). The World Trade Center towers figure prominently in the film. This was The Younger Son's first time to see this movie. It had been years (decades?) since I last saw it. We enjoyed it.

trailer:


It's online at youtube in 10 parts with embedding disabled. Part 1 is here.

Moria praises the casting and special effects and says it's "one of the first science fiction/action hybrids" and "one of the most witty and stylish of these sf/action films". The New York Times calls it "by far Mr. Carpenter's most ambitious, most riveting film to date". Slant Magazine has a review describing it as "timeless activist cinema".

4/20/2009: Cinematical has a favorite scene.

Ten Influential Films of The Last Ten Years

/film has a list of the 10 most influential films of the last 10 years:

* Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
* The Bourne Ultimatum
* Traffic
* My Big Fat Greek Wedding
* Polar Express
* Rushmore
* The Matrix
* Children of Men
* The 40 Year Old Virgin
* Coraline

It's a response to the list of 15 "movies that shaped the cinema and the audiences that viewed them" from TCM, none of which were released during the last 32 (yes, 32!) years.

Ones I've seen are in bold print.

Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box is a 1929 silent German film starring Louise Brooks.

Youtube has it online in 13 parts. part 1:

part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13

Bright Lights Film Journal has an in-depth article. DVDTalk reviews the Criterion DVD. The Guardian has a review. Films de France says,

Pandora's Box is one of the great masterpieces of early German cinema, directed by one of the country's most accomplished cineastes, G.W. Pabst, and starring Louise Brooks, one of the greatest and most instantly recognisable of film icons.

Alphabet of Obscure Science Fiction Classics

A. Alphaville [1965]
B. Brainstorm [1983]
C. Charly [1968]
D. Destination Moon [1950]
E. Enemy Mine [1985]
F. Frau im Mond [1929]
G. Gold [1934]
H. Harrison Bergeron [1995]
I. The Incredible Shrinking Man [1957]
J. Just Imagine [1930]
K. Krakatit [1947]
L. Lifeforce [1985]
M. The Man in the White Suit [1951]
N. Night of the Comet [1984]
O. On Your Mark [1995]
P. Panic in Year Zero! [1962]
Q. Quatermass and the Pit [1968]
R. Robinson Crusoe on Mars [1964]
S. Soylent Green [1973]
T. Them! [1954]
U. The Ultimate Warrior [1975]
V. Village of the Damned [1960]
W. The War Game [1965]
X. X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes [1963] (scheduled for 5/24)
Y. Yosei Gorasu [1962]
Z. Zardoz [1974]

Ones I've seen are in bold print.

HT: SFSignal

Distraction

Distraction by Bruce Sterling is the 2000 winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, finding it hard to put down. There are mentions of the game of Go scattered throughout.

from the back of the book:

It's November 2044, an election year, and the state of the Union is a farce. The government is broke, the cities are privately owned, and the military is shaking down citizens in the streets. Washington has become a circus and no one knows that better than Oscar Valparaiso. A political spin doctor, Oscar has always made things look good. Now he wants to make a difference. But Oscar has a skeleton in his closet. His only ally: Dr. Greta Penninger, a gifted neurologist at the bleeding edge of the neural revolution. Together they're out to spread a very dangerous idea whose time has come. And so have their enemies: every technofanatic, government goon, and laptop assassin in America. Oscar and Greta might not survive to change the world, but they'll put a new spin on it.

Infinity Plus has a review. SFSite calls it his "best novel yet". There's a review at BoingBoing that ends with this:

It's a powerful concoction, this book, and now, ten years after its initial publication, it's possible to asses just how prescient, how visionary, Sterling is. I love all of Bruce's books, but this one may just be my favorite. It's the kind of friend you end up staying up all night chatting with, even when all you plan on doing is saying a quick hello.

Most Influential Films

15 from TCM:

"The Birth of a Nation" (1915)

"Battleship Potemkin" (1925)

"Metropolis" (1927)

"42nd Street" (1933) (I've seen the stage production)

"It Happened One Night" (1934)

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)

"Gone with the Wind" (1939)

"Stagecoach" (1939)

"Citizen Kane" (1941)

"Bicycle Thieves" (1947)

"Rashomon" (1950)

"The Searchers" (1956)

"Breathless" (1959)

"Psycho" (1960)

"Star Wars" (1977)

and 10 from Roger Ebert:

1. The early Chaplin shorts (I've seen some of these.)

2. "Birth of a Nation"

3. "Battleship Potemkin"

4. "The Jazz Singer"

5. "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs"

6. "Citizen Kane"

7. "Shadows"

8. "Star Wars"

9. "Toy Story"

10. "The Blair Witch Project"

Ones I've seen are in bold print.

from Roger Ebert

Fantasy Films for Tax Day

SciFiScanner offers this list (annotated at their site) of 5 fantasy films to help get us through the tax season:

Labyrinth (1986)

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Jumanji (1995)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Bruce Almighty

Ones I've seen are in bold print.

Cotton Patch Gospel

We've had the VHS tape of the Cotton Patch Gospel for decades but hadn't watched it until Saturday. It provides an interesting perspective, especially for this life-long Southerner. Here's a clip:


There is a DVD available.

The New York Times has a theater review that uses the phrase "relentlessly folksy".

Easter!

He is Risen!

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. (Mark 16: 1-8)

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through* Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)

The picture at the top of the post is of The Resurrection by Fra Angelico.

Books for Nerds

Impnerd has an annotated list of "10 Books (or Book Series) that Nerds Love". Here are the book titles:

10. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

8. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

7. The Ender’s Game Series by Orson Scott Card
(I've read the first 4 in the Ender series)

6. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

5. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

4. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

3. The Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson (I've read the 1st and 3rd)

2. Enemy Mine by Barry Longyear

1. The Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert (I've read the first 4 in the original series)

Ones I've read are in bold print. Looks like Enemy Mine should go on my "to buy" list.

HT: SFSignal

Amelie

Amélie is an award-winning 2001 French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (City of Lost Children). We listened to it in French with the English subtitles.

Youtube has most of this online divided into short sections. part 1: [These videos are gone now.]

trailer:

BBC describes this film as a "charming tale of a young French girl who helps strangers find love and happiness." The New York Times has a positive review. Variety calls it a "fresh, funny, exquisitely bittersweet tour de force". Roger Ebert says it's

a delicious pastry of a movie, a lighthearted fantasy in which a winsome heroine overcomes a sad childhood and grows up to bring cheer to the needful and joy to herself.

Good Friday

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?

And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 18:1-19:42)

The picture at the top of the post is of a late 19th century a crucifixion shrine by Joseph Koenig.

Maundy Thursday

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13: 1-35)

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood; Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him, who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal; the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)

The picture at the top of the post is Communion of the Apostles by Fra Angelico.

The Browncoats band

sings about Jayne, the Hero of Canton:



Yes, there is a Browncoats band.

HT: io9

Laura Nyro

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1997 of singer/songwriter/pianist Laura Nyro. She has a Facebook page. Her official homepage marks the date:

The saddest part is that there are no new memories to be made. The gladdest part is that Laura's music is alive, vital, and accessible. Both her genius and her persona can still fill the room through her sound, and that's a wonderful, ongoing gift.

Save the Country:


The picture at the top of the post is from Pere Ubu's Flickr photostream.

Religious Doubt in the Movies

Cinematical has a Lenten post on 7 movies with religious doubt/theological distress as a theme. The list is annotated at the site, but here's just the titles, with ones I've seen in bold print:

1. The Last Temptation of Christ

2. Agnes of God

3. The Sound of Music

4. The Nun's Story

5. The Exorcist

6. Quills

7. Dogma

Paul McAuley's List of Essential SF

Paul McAuley has a list of essential SF titles:

Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus MARY SHELLEY 1818
Journey to the Centre of the Earth JULES VERNE 1863
After London RICHARD JEFFRIES 1885
The Time Machine HG WELLS 1895
The House on the Borderland WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON 1912
We YEVGENY ZAMIATIN 1924
Brave New World ALDOUS HUXLEY 1932
Star Maker OLAF STAPLEDON 1937
1984 GEORGE ORWELL 1949
I, Robot, ISAAC ASIMOV 1950
The Martian Chronicles RAY BRADBURY 1950
The Dying Earth JACK VANCE 1950
Childhood's End ARTHUR C CLARKE 1953
The Space Merchants CM KORNBLUTH & FREDERIK POHL 1953
Tiger! Tiger! ALFRED BESTER 1956
The Death of Grass JOHN CHRISTOPHER 1956
The Seedling Stars JAMES BLISH 1957
The Midwich Cuckoos JOHN WYNDHAM 1957
Starship Troopers ROBERT A HEINLEIN 1959
A Canticle for Liebowitz WALTER M MILLER JR 1959
Solaris STANSLAW LEM 1961
Hothouse BRIAN ALDISS 1962
A Clockwork Orange ANTONY BURGESS 1962
Cat's Cradle KURT VONNEGUT JR 1963
Martian Time-Slip PHILIP K DICK 1964
Dune FRANK HERBERT 1965
The Crystal World JG BALLARD 1966
Flowers For Algernon DANIEL KEYES 1966
Lord of Light ROGER ZELAZNY 1967
Nova SAMUEL R DELANY 1968
Pavane KEITH ROBERTS 1968
The Left Hand of Darkness URSULA K LE GUIN 1969
Roadside Picnic ARKADY AND BORIS STRUGATSKI 1969
334 THOMAS M DISCH 1972
Dying Inside ROBERT SILVERBERG 1972
The Fifth Head of Cerberus GENE WOLFE 1972
Ten Thousand Light Years From Home JAMES TIPTREE JR 1973
The Forever War JOE HALDEMAN 1974
Inverted World CHRISTOPHER PRIEST 1974
The Female Man JOANNA RUSS 1975
Arslan MJ ENGH 1976
The Ophiuchi Hotline JOHN VARLEY 1977
The Final Programme MICHAEL MOORCOCK 1968
Kindred OCTAVIA BUTLER 1979
Engine Summer JOHN CROWLEY 1979
Timescape GREGORY BENFORD 1980
Neuromancer WILLIAM GIBSON 1984
Divine Endurance GWYNETH JONES 1984

Ones I've read are in bold print.

HT: SFSignal

A Fool There Was

A Fool There Was is a 1915 Theda Bara movie. Today is the anniversary of the death in 1955 of Theda Bara (according to IMDB, though Wikipedia lists the date as 4/13), and this is one of the few of her films that has survived.

There is a Theda Bara tribute site here, photo galleries here, a short biography here and a short overview of her career here. FilmReference.com has a list of her films and lists some print resources. She has a Facebook page.

She was never in a "talkie".

The Vampire

by
Rudyard Kipling

A fool there was and he made his prayer
(Even as you and I!)
To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair
(We called her the woman who did not care),
But the fool he called her his lady fair
(Even as you and I!)

Oh the years we waste and the tears we waste
And the work of our head and hand,
Belong to the woman who did not know
(And now we know that she never could know)
And did not understand.

A fool there was and his goods he spent
(Even as you and I!)
Honor and faith and a sure intent
But a fool must follow his natural bent
(And it wasn't the least what the lady meant),
(Even as you and I!)

Oh the toil we lost and the spoil we lost
And the excellent things we planned,
Belong to the woman who didn't know why
(And now we know she never knew why)
And did not understand.

The fool we stripped to his foolish hide
(Even as you and I!)
Which she might have seen when she threw him aside --
(But it isn't on record the lady tried)
So some of him lived but the most of him died --
(Even as you and I!)

And it isn't the shame and it isn't the blame
That stings like a white hot brand.
It's coming to know that she never knew why
(Seeing at last she could never know why)
And never could understand.

2/19/2010: Ferdy on Films has a post on this movie as part of the Film Preservation Blogathon.

Donald in Mathmagic Land

Donald in Mathmagic Land is a 1959 Disney short starring Donald Duck and narrated by Paul Frees. I don't remember ever having seen this before, so I'm glad I can get a taste of it at youtube. part 1:


part 2, part 3

Here's a trivia question for you:

Q: What does "Donald in Mathmagic Land" have in common with the Bible?
A: They both get the value of Pi wrong.

HT: Another Old Movie Blog:

“Donald in Mathmagic Land” (1959) makes math beautiful, sings hosannas to the orderliness and sense of logic that is the foundation of beauty in art, in music, in nature, and in human beings.

Isaac Asimov

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1992 of Isaac Asimov. He is one of the first science fiction authors I ever read and a long-time favorite. I started the kids off with the Norby books while they were quite young.

Bill Moyers interviewed Isaac Asimov, and that interview is on youtube in 3 parts. part 1:

part 2, part 3

BBC has an interview here. The Mother Jones interview is here.

There is a comprehensive collection of resources here. There is a short biography and a bibliography here. He has an entry at the Internet Movie Data Base and a Facebook page.

FreeSFOnline has a couple of his stories. You can listen to Nightfall here. The Last Question can be read online. The Feeling of Power can be read here. This site has the full text of Profession.

Asimov was an atheist.

The Karate Kid

The kids had never seen The Karate Kid (1984), and this afternoon seemed like a good time. Everybody liked it. It stars Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. It is #98 on the AFI list of America's Most Inspiring Movies.

Youtube has this one online, with embedding disabled. Here are links to the individual sections: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13

The New York Times has a mixed review. Roger Ebert calls it

one of the nice surprises of 1984 -- an exciting, sweet-tempered, heart-warming story with one of the most interesting friendships in a long time.

6/17/2009: The House Next Door has fond memories.

Missile to the Moon

Missile to the Moon is a 1958 science fiction film starring Cathy Downs (Phantom from 10,000 Leagues, My Darling Clementine). I have seen this described as similar to and even as a remake of Cat Women of the Moon.

Youtube has a clip:


DVDTalk says it "is nobody's idea of a good movie," advises "Don't see it alone, it's funnier with friends," and asks, "And how can the worst space movie ever made, be the worst space movie ever made, if it's such a delight?" Classic Sci-Fi Movies blog says it "is more fun if you've seen Catwomen [of the Moon] already".

Palm Sunday

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. (Mark 11: 6-11 KJV)

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)


The picture at the top of the post is of Entry Into Jerusalem by Fra Angelico.

Jesus Movies

This is a project for me for Lent: to gather together films that, in some way, re-tell the story of Jesus. I organized a film series at church several years ago that covered several of these, but there are many more.

The Passion Play of Oberammergau (1898)

The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1903)
La Vie du Christ (1906)
Ben Hur (1907)
From the Manger to the Cross (1912)
Christus (1914)
Christus (1916, director Antamoro)
Intolerance (1916)
Ben Hur (1925)
The King of Kings (1927)
Jesus of Nazareth (1928)

Golgotha (1935)
The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)

Ben Hur (1959)

Barabbas (1961)
King of Kings (1961)
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Son of Man (1969)

Godspell (1973)
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus (1973)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
The Thorn (1974)
Il Messia (1975)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
The Nativity (1978)
The Jesus Film (1979)
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)

The Day Christ Died (1980)
Hail Mary (1985)
Cotton Patch Gospel (1988)
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)

Lamb of God (1993)
Book of Life (1998)
The Green Mile (1999)
Jesus (1999)
Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999)

Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)
The Miracle Maker (2000)
The Cross (2001)
Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)
The Gospel of John (2003)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Son of Man (2005)
Color of the Cross (2006)
Manchester Passion (2006)
The Nativity Story (2006)
St. Mary (2007)
The Messiah (2008)
The Passion (2008)

Christianity Today lists their top 10 Jesus movies.
BibleFilms has a top 10 list.

Ben-Hur (1959)

Ben-Hur is the 3rd film adaptation of the book by Lew Wallace. This one is directed by William Wyler and stars Charlton Heston.

I've seen this film several times and have the DVD.

Youtube has it online in 15 pieces [gone as of 2/17/2010], but Tudou.com has it in parts with foreign subtitles and limited commercials. I didn't watch this, so I don't know if it's complete. I tried but couldn't get them to show up here, so I'm just posting links to the videos. Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (the chariot race is at the beginning of this clip, and it looks like the crucifixion is here, too).

The New York Times calls it "a remarkably intelligent and engrossing human drama". Variety says it "is a majestic achievement, representing a superb blending of the motion picture arts by master craftsmen."

I Shot Jesse James

I Shot Jesse James is a 1949 Western directed by Samuel Fuller. It seemed suitable for today since this is the anniversary of the death in 1882 of Jesse James.

Veoh has it online, but you have to download their player to see it:

Watch I Shot Jesse James (1949, Samuel Fuller) in Drama  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Downloading veoh has always caused me problems, but it's been easy enough to uninstall it after I've watched the video. Not this time. It had a weird frame that appeared at the top of my google searches even after I uninstalled the thing. There was also an icon in my toolbar that stayed after the uninstall, too. I had to take that out manually, but the frame in the google search results remained, and I couldn't find any way of getting rid of it. I had to do a search of my computer for related files and folders and uninstall each one and then restart my computer before it went away. And I'm still not sure it's completely gone. Never again! For reviews from people who have had similar problems look here and here.

The New York Times calls the movie "a very mild pretense at being an entertainment." Criterion has this film available in a box set of Fuller's work that also includes The Baron of Arizona (Vincent Price) and The Steel Helmet. DVDTalk says,

The inexpensive I Shot Jesse James comes a year before the acknowledged beginning of the 'psychological western' but is much more cinematically 'psychological' than either The Gunfighter or High Noon. The movie is also daring in content, suggesting perhaps for the first time that male relationships among cowboys might be stronger than their ties to their 'womenfolk.'

MSN has an overview.

Sita Sings the Blues

With those ugly copyright (copywrong?) issues dealt with, Nina Paley's Sita Sings the Blues can actually be seen and enjoyed.

In addition to all the other delightful aspects of this work there is a cat named Lexie. Just so you'll know. So, Pal, if you weren't planning on watching it, now you have a compelling reason to sit a spell and watch.

At the Internet Archive or from googlevideo:


Roger Ebert loves it. Variety describes it as a "delightfully subversive feminist musical version of the "Ramayana,"".

11/24/2009: Cartoon Brew: "Filmmaker Nina Paley explains in the Wall Street Journal how she’s earned $55,000 from her animated feature Sita Sings the Blues by giving it away for free."

100 Hours of Astronomy

100 Hours of Astronomy begins today! It is a part of the International Year of Astronomy. Now if I could just figure out how to turn the sound off the Astronomy Year site! Ah, it went off by itself. Odd. Ah, there it is: an autostart slide show. That's a pain.

There are all kinds of tie-ins to this. Just for the 100 Hours program there are events going on all over the word. Looks like there are no scheduled events close to me.

The tornado watches will keep me from stargazing tonight anyway, though I guess I could use this virtual observatory, or go to a planetarium show or explore the stars in my web browser with Neave Planetarium. I can take a multimedia tour of the solar system or discover Views of the Solar System. You can get a telescope just like the one Galileo used. (Good luck finding nights as dark as the ones he had.) Help classify a million galaxies during the 100 hours.

There's a primer on basic Astronomy here. Astronomy Magazine and Sky and Telescope offer a lot of general information. There's a daily podcast for the year here. There's an atlas of the universe here that "is designed to give everyone an idea of what our universe actually looks like." There are Hubble photos here and here. Caltech offers cool activities at their Cool Cosmos site. There's a Facebook group for the year and several event pages and groups for the "100 Hours".

There's even a theme song:


There is a lot of fun stuff online and in the real world sky -if you're lucky enough to have clear skies during these 100 hours. The year is young, though, and there'll be clear skies a-plenty before it's done.

4/3/2009: The Bad Astronomy blog has some links.

La Glace à trois faces

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1953 of film director Jean Epstein. He directed La Glace à trois faces (The Three-Sided Mirror), which is a 1927 silent short film. It is a tragic story. Senses of Cinema says Epstein's

dependence on the close-up, his obsession with the totemic power of the object, his freewheeling mastery of cutting, variation of camera speed and trust in the interpretive abilities of the audience, all come to a head with La Glace à trois faces.

The film can be viewed online and downloaded from ubuweb:


There's an interesting fountain pen at about 12:50. It screws out. What kind is that... Again at 22:10.

I've also seen Epstein's 1928 Fall of the House of Usher.

Just Like Heaven

Just Like Heaven is a 2005 ghost story starring Reese Witherspoon.

It's online at googlevideo, but I had trouble with some of the video skipping. I mixed sections from different channels to avoid the problem, but they don't match up as well as if they had come from one source. part 1:

part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, start this video at 6:20, next part, next, next, the last piece is just 3 1/2 minutes

The New York Times calls it "a metaphysical second-chance comedy" and gives it a somewhat positive review. Roger Ebert likes it. Variety says it is "as uneven as the topography of its San Francisco locales, but the amiable peaks mostly offset the flat stretches and valleys."

Pete's Dragon

Pete's Dragon is a 1977 musical fantasy film starring Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters and Jeff Conaway (from Babylon 5).

Youtube has it online divided into 14 sections. part 1:

part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14

The New York Times calls it energetic and enjoyable but has a couple of caveats. Moria says it "isn’t a particularly memorable effort".

April Fool Movies

Suite 101 has a list of films they suggest are suitable for the day.

From their list I've seen The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Harvey. Blithe Spirit seems to be out of print and not available online. Pete’s Dragon doesn't seem to be available new right now. Just Like Heaven is more recent -from 2005.