Kimmedia

I generally don’t like schmaltzy themes but I’ll make an exception for this one.  The set and costume colors were pure fun and my eyes were very very happy through the whole film.  I also really dislike Broadway musicals but since the music in this one had an Indian twist it was slightly more bearable than usual.  This movie fit the bill for some light entertainment and served up some truly delicious eye candy.

I’ve spent the last few weeks engrossed in this fascinating biography of C.G. Jung. The author is not a Jung "devotee" and you can see her efforts to present all sides of every issue. Her vignettes give several, sometimes conflicting, views of Jung’s character and work which effected his immediate circle of family, friends and acquaintances as well as the world of psychology in numerous, often disparate ways. This is a fascinating read if you are at all interested in Jung and/or his theories.

This documentary is a clear and insightful account of a group of people in unoccupied France who reached out to help Jewish children during World War II in a remarkable act of compassion and bravery.

This story affirms the goodness and demonstrates the long lasting effects of simple acts of good will that humans can show towards each other.

Artwork and photos of the children of Chabannes

This film meanders through the subconscious worlds of its main characters. The special effects work feels very handcrafted and original and augments the feeling that one is in the dream world or subconscious of the characters. The story is maybe a love story but like everything else in the film it’s about what’s going on below the surface where so called reality is a matter of one’s moods, feelings and thoughts in the present moment.

This movie isn’t perfect but it is entertaining. The biggest and perhaps only real problem is the ending which is just plain goofy, unbelievable and a let down. In a lesser movie that would destroy the whole thing but there’s much to enjoy in the rest of the film. The general topic, art school (or it could be any liberal arts school) and the games amongst the inmates be they students, teachers or janitors. Having just finished an arts program myself  I could relate to many of the situations. The movie stimulated some interesting conversations between my partner and I after we watched it.  If only they’d done a decent ending . . . I did have some fun trying to think of an ending that would’ve worked.

This Sci-Fi TV Miniseries was better than I thought it would be.  The set design was thoughtful and artistic and the actors for the most part did a fine job.  The series runs almost 5 hours and so is able to do justice to the twists and turns of Frank Herbert’s plot for the story.

Often movies based on books don’t do justice and so disappoint. This movie is an exception. The real genius of Virginia Wolf’s idiosyncratic, poetic, psychological style is palpable in the screen play and the actor’s performances.

This documentary was alarming, disturbing and very relevant to understanding weight and health problems in the U.S.

The filmmaker goes on a McDonalds binge – eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at the popular fast food joint for a whole month. His pre-binge medical stats prove him to be extremely healthy before he starts. By the end of the McDonald’s feast he’s gained almost 20 pounds and medical tests show his vital stats are in very bad shape. The doctors encourage him to quit the experiment because his health is at risk.

At one point the film asks whether the United States declining educational test scores for children might be related to the mass consumption of high fat – high sugar foods by many young people. McDonalds spends 1.4 billion dollars annually advertising their junk food by showing skinny, happy, smart looking people having fun while consuming their product. It’s hard to believe people would fall for this obvious advertising scheme. But then a high fat – high sugar food diet impairing the ability to think could explain the success of this scam which takes money from people in exchange for bad health. The 99 cent burger is not even remotely a good deal in the long run.

My guess is that people either hate this film or love it with few middle of the roaders. It is about the invisible world of energy and if you don’t believe in that or it bothers you - you won’t like this movie. It takes invisible, healing energy generated by humans very seriously. Mesmer, a historical figure portrayed in this film, heals sick people by using his own energy which he calls animal magnetism. The movie is surprisingly somber and serious – and doesn’t fall for any Hollywood bell and whistle tricks. If you are into this sort of thing it’s very engaging and artistically executed.