'The Death of Ivan Ilyich'

This novella by the great Leo Tolstoy brings up some very interesting points.

For one, Ivan Ilyich's death is entirely more interesting than his death.

Two, it's interesting that Christian folks embrace "The Death ..." because of the conversion near the end, just before our hero expires. Why is it interesting? Because I can't imagine Christians ever reading anything remotely interesting and good. Oh, and that I don't find it odd that knocking on death's door that a person (even an athiest) doesn't hedge his bets on an afterlife ... no matter how insincere the conversion is.

Three, how different does this story end if it's set in 1982 or 2002 or 2008? Chances are, Ilyich died of something dumb. Had he lived in the modern age where prevention and detection are so advanced, Ilyich probably lives for another 40 years. Of course, he would've been so miserable. He's probably better off.

'Three Kings'

This is one of the most powerful films I have seen in a long, long time.

There's nobody that tries to maintain some sort of clarity regarding my country and its exploits around the world for the past 300+ years more than me. If war was so awesome, so clear cut, then it would happen a lot more than it actually does. If determining good from bad meant just seeing who was dressed in black, then it'd be simpler. But it's not and never is.

America has had some shitty leadership over the years and there has been a steady and sure set of events that have put the United States and the rest of the world in it's specific and current predicaments. There is little we can all do about the past. However, it is our and everyone else's duty to fight for what is right; to fight against what is wrong. It's as human as breathing. We had the responsibility to invade Iraq years ago ... not as oil-needy Americans, not as a first-world country, but as human beings. Frankly, it should've happened in the 1990s, but someone's father fucked it up then and ended up really screwing his own son. The situation in all kinds of places around the world is fucked up. But it's not less fucked up with Saddam Hussein gassing folks.

No country, no leader is perfect. Would I rather not have Paris Hilton be so looked up to, or have all the shitty reality TV, dumb movies and the inane luxuries? Certainly. But give me Paris Hilton any day of the week over 90 percent of the world. I'd bet there's a shitload of Iraqis who'd say the same.

See, told you it was a powerful film.

'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold'

Despite the title, it has little to do with someone battling a winter storm finally arriving home to warm himself by the fire.

But it's certainly about the Cold War and more importantly questioning the integrity and morality of spy warfare, and the tactics of the Allies and Russia.

Frankly, I don't understand spies. When they say, "You can trust no one," they mean it. And no one includes your friends and employers. These spies are and were just pawns in a bigger game and they were as expendable as a penny or a hair on your head. How can you live like that? Devoid of any human characteristic and emotion like happiness and love? How depressing!

By the way, I'm still not 100 percent clear who was on whose team in this book. Still trying to figure that out.

'This is Spinal Tap'

I had been under the vague assumption that there were two Spinal Tap movies.

Odd that I had never sat down and watched this film in its entirety before right now. I mean, the entire piece appealed to the 12- to 24-year-old me on such a high and powerful level.

It's still very, very humorous, but not as much had it seen it at age 17. The 17-year-old me would've laughed his ass off for all 82 minutes.

The British accents make me think of Adrian Brody in the underrated "Son of Sam" where he's the punk rocker and he (the character, and thus Brody) speaks in a very, very, very poor British accent despite being very, very, very Italian.

M*A*S*H

This is pretty unwatchable. Pretty dumb, not funny and not really poignant or telling. Nothing that makes me look at war any differently. Although, the football game analogy was pretty interesting, but entirely too long.

Allegedly, is a satirical "dramedy" (it's not really funny in the least) about the Vietnam War ... despite the fact that it's actually about the Korean War. I dislike the "thinly veiled" commentary on the Vietnam War because it insinuates that the Korean conflict was somehow not on the same level in terms of war being, you know, bad and senseless. The fact that it's about Korea somehow makes it a little more legit then if it was about Vietnam.

More so than war, the film's more of a commentary on religion. Which any half-wit, hack film student can do. Seems petty and dumb.

I did learn that "Suicide is Painless" -- the theme song -- actually has lyrics. Long before Midlake ripped it off.

'The Velvet Underground and Nico'

Got to give the Underground credit: They never really overextended themselves. Which is kind of a double-edged sword. Try to hard and it's obvious. Don't try hard enough and it's lazy.

I tend to group the Underground with the former.

It must have been pretty exciting to be 21 years old in 1967 listening to the Beatles, Beach Boys, Stones and Underground.

Uh, hold on. At 21 in 1967, you're probably getting your guts blown out in Vietnam. No thanks. I'll just download it from iTunes in 2008 and keep my guts.

'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

Oscar Wilde is alright. The British must be very proud of him. He's so stinking witty and smart. Just chockfull of wonderful little idioms and themes.

Like "The Picture of Dorian Grey." What a great work about the value of morals and decent behavior.

It's odd reading such a dark book from Wilde, the same guy who brought us "The Importance of Being Earnest." Such great ability.

The British must be very proud.