Cultural Consumptions

So, here's my follow up to a previous post, with ratings on what I'm calling "Cultural Consumptions" in recent weeks:

'Blood Diamond': A+
Gory, in-your-face and bluntly violent but extremely well-made and well-directed. This story about mid-1990's Sierra Leone and the vicious civil war, funded by the sale of conflict diamonds, that ripped it apart is gruesome but so tightly made that you can't help but hang on to every scene like your life depends on it. Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal as a South African smuggler with a complicated moral compass, warped by years of suffering the many of the inequities and contradictions of life in Africa.

At its very core this film is about nationalism - it manifests itself in vicious jungle warfare and genocide, but also in a fierce love for country and kin and a dream for a more peacful tomorrow. But this hope is meek, fragile and fleeting. There is a vast emptiness - not only in the homes and bellies of these people, and not only in the sprawling heat-soaked savannah - but in their eyes as they witness merciless brutality and wonder if they will even survive to see tomorrow. And then there is the very obvious contradiction about the diamonds themselves. Standing in Tiffany's surrounded by shimmering rocks in glass cases, it's easy to forget the amount of blood that was spent and the suffering people had to endure to tweeze up scraps of carbon and watch it being snatched away from them.

Watch this movie - you'll come out shaken, but your perspective will be radically altered. After I saw it, I felt like selling all the diamonds I own and donating the money to people in Africa. But then I can only be selfless for so long. Still, I hope one day I can do something to make a difference.

'The Good Shepherd': C
Despite a good cast (Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert DeNiro), this 'the CIA is ruthless in the 1960's' movie was desperately slow and didn't do a very good job of making you feel connected to the characters or even caring about their fate. Angelina Jolie had about 15 mins of screen time but was actually pretty decent. Matt Damon was in every frame and tried to create a character that doesn't talk much yet feels a great deal, but the end result was a little too deadpan for me. If you don't see it, you haven't missed much.

'The 40 Year Old Virgin': B-
The concept was a little kitsch, the story was very predictable and the language was a little *too* over the edge for me, although Steve Carrell was hilarious. It was on HBO and I can't imagine it ever on basic cable without tonnes of bleeps or voiceovers or censored scenes. Okay for a one time watch, but nowhere close to Dude, Where's My Car, Road Trip, Harold & Kumar and other classic stoner movies.

'Night at the Museum': B
The reviews mocked it, but I actually liked this movie! Your typical Ben Stiller fare, this movie is going to be on TBS all the time in about 5 years. Definitely family-friendly, and laugh out loud funny if you're looking for some mindless entertainment.

'Abraham' by Bruce Feiler: A-
FYI, it's about the prophet, not Lincoln :)

This book is very interesting study on Prophet Ibrahim (as we Muslims refer to him) - who he was, what he did, and how/why all three of the world's monotheistic religions claim that he was the forefather of each one. Feiler tends to focus more on the Jewish and Christian interpretation of him, and in some cases seems rather blasphemous when he begins to assume why God may have said or done things (c'mon you can't put words in His mouth!) but once you begin reading this book you realize how little you really know about this man, and how much actually there is in common between all three religions. In fact, the book has spawned thousands interfaith discussions in the U.S. and around the world because Abraham *is* such a common figure that he helps bring opposing factions together to acknowledge his greatness, and the true meaning of his mission. A must-read.

'The Time-Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger: A+
Props to Rumaisa for recommending this book! A fantastic concept and beautifully written, gut-wrenching love story that, I must admit, had me crying at many points through the book.

This is the story about Henry, a man who has a genetic defect that makes him travels to the past and future on a regular basis. Henry meets, falls in love with, marries a girl called Clare, only because of his time traveling, he meets her at different ages and throughout time. Clare's life, however, is running on a sequential basis. So when they meet in their 20's, she's actually already met him because he came to her when she was 6 and he was 40, but he hasn't met her yet because he's only 28 and not 40. Wait. This is confusing to explain. Read it yourself and you'll understand - and you'll definitely cry so keep a box of tissues handy!

'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway: A+
A visual and audio delight! Two thumbs way up. The music is phenomenal, plus we were sitting in the second row and it was a great feeling to be so close to the stage when the Phantom takes Christine away to his lair on the rowboat. And the chandelier fell on our heads too :D Overall, extremely enjoyable and engrossing, wonderful music (especially the title track) and very well put together!

So, that's my take. Looking forward to everyone's comments :)