Oscar blew it (again)

I know you can't please everybody but Oscar, as usual, got it wrong.

How is it possible that Martin Scorsese, who's one of the best American directors of our generation, never won an Oscar for the Best Director?

In 2001, how did "Gladiator", the most overrated movie of all time, beat out "Traffic" and "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"; the films that are clearly more superior? Hell, even "Erin Brockovich", which released on the same year was a much better film.

For the Best Picture, I haven't seen "Finding Neverland" and "Ray" but it should be a capital crime that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" isn't on the list. The other three nominees are well deserved.

I think it's pretty cool that they recognized Catalina Sandino Moreno from "Maria Full of Grace". I doubt that she would beat out Hilary Swank or Imelda Staunton but it's a great recognition for the first time young actress (just like when Keisha Castle-Hughes from "Whale Rider" was nominated).

I love the nominee list for the Best Supporting Actress. Great performances by all.

For the Best Directing, Oscar once again blew it by leaving out Michel Gondry's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". I haven't seen "Ray" (Taylor Hackford) or "Vera Drake" (Mike Leigh) so I’ll preserve my comment.

I've watched quite a few foreign films this year but none of them are on the list for the Best foreign film. I guess I have more homework to do.

Sexual Peak: What's your experience?

According to Tim Curry's character in "Kinsey", men wont' reach their sexual peak until they're 40. I told a friend with a big smirk that it means I have 4 more years to go before I reach my prime. Woo Hoo!!!

Well, my friend went an extra mile by looking up some real researches and managed to ruin what I have to look forward to. This is what she wrote to me...

"I looked it up and men peak due to heightened hormone levels between 17 and 25 depending on the sources that you read. Women peak between 30-35 because of 2 different factors 1) hormone levels are highest at that age 2) women become more comfortable with their sexuality and more secure with themselves and feel less guilt. But, women are less likely to take advantage or experience this heightened sexuality if they a) have kids b) are on medications, like antidepressants, which ladies home journal (?) or some other web page claimed that 1 in every 5 women are on them - I highly doubt that though!"

OK, I wasn't serious about being ruined by this discovery. As a matter of fact, I found this to be informative since I was never aware of that big gap between the male and the female's sexual peak. I also wonder whether the reasons mentioned for not taking advantage of this phenomenon are accurate for the majority of the females.

Hi-Yah!

Three recent kung fu movies have received excellent praises from critics and audience in the US. They are "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Hero", and "House of Flying Daggers". Guess which one is the real McCoy and the only one I'd recommend?

As a Thai kid grew up in Bangkok, I, just like many boys in the city, was addicted to reading Japanese anime and watching kung fu movies from China or Hong Kong and reading the kung fu stories. Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" perfectly represents what I'd imagined while reading those stories. Lee was serious when he said that he intended to direct this film based on his experience and understanding, watching/reading the genre.

"House of Flying Daggers" started out great with a promising plot, breathtaking fight scenes and beautiful landscapes. Unfortunately, the movie took a turn for the worst once it decided to abandon all other aspects of the film and turned into an uninspired, sappy love triangle movie. The issues were left unresolved and I was left with a disappointment of another movie with great potential but couldn't deliver.

"Hero" is a camera work extravaganza and that's about all it has to offer. It's something nice to look at for about 10 minutes and then you start to think - Okee Dokee, let's see some plot or acting or something. Then by the end of the film, it will make you want to scream - how many more times do I have to see Broken Sword and Flying Snow get friggin' killed?

"Hero" is pretentious and fragmented. Its plot is boring and uninventive. What a waste of one of the most beautiful cinematography works I've ever seen.

The thing about Michael Moore

"Always the message, never the messenger" ~ moi

When Moore makes movies, he's a film maker. Whatever content he chooses to put in his film is totally up to him. He never hides his agenda. He puts the information out there and we, the audience, use our critical analysis and accept it based on our own knowledge and experience.

Some people wouldn't go see Moore's films because they refuse to put money in his pocket for his cause (whatever the heck that means). I think it's accurate to assume that these people have been watching all the great indie and foreign films as supposed to some slasher/violent or some low standard Hollywood type of movies that don't offer any value.

“Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” are excellent movies that deliver important messages. You don't have to be a liberal or a conservative to go see them because I know many conservatives who have seen Moore's films, you just have to be an audience who appreciates good films and are willing to be informed.

Start the new year with love

ASIAN TSUNAMI DISASTER

I came from Thailand 16 years ago. My hometown is Bangkok, where I was born and raised. Though, I and many of us in the US weren’t directly affected by the disaster, someone’s fathers, mothers, sons, or daughters have lost their lives and the survivors have suffered. One of my very close friends lived in southern Thailand, the area that was hit. I haven’t been in touch with him since he went back to Thailand a few years ago. I have no way of contacting him. Yong, I hope you’re ok. And if you, or someone who knows him happen to read this then please leave me a comment and/or an e-mail where I can get in touch with him.

While many of us can’t be there in person to volunteer, we can donate to the charities that already have their people and resources to help relieve the disaster. In the world community, we’re all neighbors and we’ll let the people who suffer know that we care about them and will do whatever we can to help.





American Red Cross through amazon.com