Chikyû Bôeigun (The Mysterians)

A quiet town mellifluously enamoured energetically engages in festive rituals, communal friendship collectively augmenting spirited endeavours and cultivated mischief.

The lighthearted mild-mannered individuals curiously converse and dine at play, before a startling blaze is suddenly detected not far off in a nearby wood.

The radioactive nature of the fire chemically defies known scientific understanding, inherently baffling brave local residents who risk their lives to douse the flames.

But before such an occurrence can come to pass, a giant robot emerges from the Earth, and sets about destroying the town with awkward movements and delirious gusto.

The military is eventually able to thwart its destructive malevolent intent, just before its colonialist authorship tyrannically proclaims its wicked objectives.

Relying on their superior technology which destroyed their home world so long ago, they seek to establish a new base on Earth from which to spread their invasive fury.

Internationally disposed, the people of Earth courageously respond with bitter defiance.

Bombastic composure inevitably maneuvering. 

As mutually disabling conflict obliterates.

Strange how the art of diplomacy lacks effective resolve every 4 to 8 years, and bizarre developments maladroitly alter reliable seamless networks and agencies.

In The Mysterians, a constructive dialogue would have gone a long way to cultivate peace, and ensured potential harmony between the species as it was initially considered.

Would it have been that disillusioning to simply approach our planet in good faith, and congenially present their novel ideas with warm and friendly interplanetary mojo?

Alas, their characteristic machismo and absurd extremist irrational demands, lead the entire world to internationally unite and find innovative ways to outgun their technology.

Friendship could have gregariously reigned and affably brought forth mutual accommodations, as it has in most ages of prosperity as closely chronicled by observant scribes.

The Mysterians refuse to lighten up however and are therefore doomed to travel longingly through space.

Forever in search of a chaotic homeland.

Consistently silencing peaceful initiatives.  

Makellose Größe. Mutige Belastbarkeit. Ukrainische Hartnäckigkeit.

I've recently listened to a lot of Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley, but I have to admit, when it comes to the blues, for me, it's gotta be Memphis Slim.

Memphis Slim! 🎹

Neposkvrněná velikost. Odvážná odolnost. Ukrajinská houževnatost.

Caskadequidditcheebiejeebrieze

Delyricuricoonpalumpa 🦝

choctiptoptiplushowroomza 🍫🐙

heartisanisesteamengenie 😻🧞🚆

floweiridescenchanTV 🌈🥀 📺

fluminutsorkobrakeline 🐍

irrelevatorrentwinedine 🍷

menageregallatlantic 🌊

thermoltinclinical'thenic 

surfrettiranimateysaurus 

lamborigami f'rêtfleurus 🌲🌳🥀

bicyclectic hierotechnic 🚲𐦉

skidugong pylonchauntmetric 

elsinorbert cactishorbert 🌵🐉

revergrenadine alloiter 🌲

burgrumpy serenchanting 👸

outdworf decoruskant'urbling 

minklingrottotogastroberoy. 🍲

Der siebente Kontinent (The Seventh Continent)

Difficult to know where to find spiritual fulfillment within cultures dominated by dubious markets, consistently disseminating similar messages decade after decade epoch after epoch.

Nevertheless, if you cast a wide cultural net you may find remarkable alternative variability, assuming you don't limit yourself to the present and sample manifold styles and rhythms. 

If your culture micromanages music and only lets certain styles and messages get through, it could certainly become excessively tedious as the years slowly pass and nothing changes.

If your culture does accept new styles and genres and continuously strives to develop new markets, as long as the difference thoughtfully compels, it can be much less depressing than totalitarianism.

I watched a ton of television in my youth and became quite adept at channel surfing, finding shows that became lasting favourites which I regularly watched and routinely recorded.

The world of television made perfect sense and I could predict things that were going to happen, having un/consciously consumed so many narratives that entertaining developments became shockingly familiar.

I eventually moved away though started travelling around the country, and many of the places I stayed had no cable television, so I slowly moved away from the once cherished medium.

Eventually, more than a decade had gone by and I found that when I had the opportunity to turn on the TV, I wasn't as impressed as I had been in my youth, and questioned why I had spent so much time watching it.

I had actually found other cool things to do which imaginatively nurtured less manufactured thoughts, and although hardly anyone ever wanted to talk to me, I still found different ways to randomly express them.

It was like my mind was energized and my spirit enjoyed its liberation, you may not understand what a lot of people are talking about, but there's an uplifting world far beyond mainstream television.

Instrumental music made a big difference too as I imagined different scenarios in differing degrees, laidback listening to the incredible solos the inspired teamwork the emphatic orchestrations. 

Silent walks in natural environments made a huge difference as well with cool animal sightings. 

Defying the totalitarian void.

Unlike the family in The Seventh Continent. 

*Criterion keyword: chilli. 

Obefläckad magnitud. Modig motståndskraft. Ukrainsk uthållighet.

Nepoškvrnená veľkosť.  Odvážna odolnosť. Ukrajinská húževnatosť.

Here

Bas Devos's Here brought back fond memories while also nurturing dreams for the future, Stefan's modest immigration experience humbly encouraging unorthodox travel.

The film follows a laidback worker who has spent some time living in Belgium, as he finishes his last shift and solemnly prepares for a month long vacation back in his homeland. 

As he walks about town casually observing things I was pleasantly reminded of life in the city, and the manifold options routinely available as you variably concoct thematic experiences. 

When he enters a restaurant for instance to get out of the pouring rain, and finds himself suddenly conversing in French with someone who speaks the language fluently.

As he tries his best to understand he knows he has to respond with something, and adamantly hopes it directly applies to the specific topic under examination.

But he gets it wrong he's misunderstood the dialogue halts it's insufficient, but he doesn't take it as a sign to stop speaking he continues onwards with verbal gusto.

By doing so, he actively demonstrates there are lots of words he can turn into sentences, and hopes his curious interlocutor instinctually respects that and keeps on talking.

In the best case scenario, they understand you're learning and that your positive attitude demonstrates you want to be there. 

If they continue the conversation using a less intricate in/formal vocabulary, it's a great opportunity for learning that can lead to chillaxed friendship (miss you).

I understood the old "fridge-clean-out" as well when you throw most of what you've got into a pot, and slowly cook it with spices and liquids until you've created something unique and edible. 

By doing so, you have several meals and fortunately nothing goes to waste, and you can share it with your friends as well as modest Stefan does in the movie.

Nature also figures prominently as he walks from place to place since his car's in the shop, the extant forest he freely travels through bringing on carefree thoughts and nascent wonder.

It's so important as cities expand and depressing sprawl creates a concrete jungle, to remember to plan intermittent green spaces throughout the urban landscape like they do in Québec.

Nice places for lunch or to spot local wildlife or even make a career studying mosses or lichen.

I'm usually careful not to disturb moss in the forest.

Although it does make a comfy place to lie down! 

*Criterion keyword: gossamer. 

Does Trump realize that all these tariffs are putting his international fanbase out of work, and driving them to left wing parties?

Magnitudine imaculată. Reziliență curajoasă. tenacitate ucraineană.

Broncos! 🏈

Magnitude imaculada. Resiliência corajosa. Tenacidade ucraniana. 

I didn't know Lionel Hampton performed at the half-time show for Super Bowl IV. 

Cool 🏈! 

Marinarathonmindmelton

Opinauticabalablaster 🏊

hoystereo storqu'est-ature 🦪

imprecitelmizorbalance 💃

beezanytinseltzergoalant 🥅

slopulentenstringerschwing

edidatticambrosebuttering 🧈

flapjacoastline R.L sunschtein 🥞 🍺

emfatuoustle pharaohdine 🏜

entwhirlinnighborwürmzercom 🪱

iced-windingoatherbivoron 🐐

dipdongoolateraleighman 

cawrestle ranchairoast-Egon 🪑

bonbl'onduelant toucheiderdown 🍬

afielderberry ghostpostown 👻

north-sound-east-western jukulele 

def'enchantment merry-halley 🏈

cometropolitesquir'nwrought. ☄

Super Bowl Pick

Kansas City Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles: there's no doubt the Eagles and Chiefs are both formidable teams, demonstratively augmenting their intuitive daring with remarkable precision and commendable accuracy. Both of them had exceptional years and have played incredibly well for at least the last 7, with postseason runs boldly accentuating difficult hard-fought tenacious regular seasons. Both teams have impressed in the playoffs this year picking up huge wins under challenging circumstances, Philadelphia looking more dominant but they dodged a bullet when the Lions were knocked out. They still looked tough though, with strong running and passing games and a quarterback as nimble as Mahomes, I kept thinking they'd run it much more often but they don't even have to they're that freakin' deep. Jalen Hurts should perhaps receive more cred for the outstanding job he's done in Philadelphia, overlooked at times by more flashy QBs, even though he's a consistent tremendous playoff factor. That gives him something to prove with a strong defence and offence to support him, you'd also hate to see Saquon Barkley come up short after such a strong running year. Can the Chiefs be beat though?, they seem to have no trouble putting scoring drives together (no matter whom they face), especially when they suddenly find themselves losing, how do they consistently win so many close ones? It's tough to pick, my football instincts say the Eagles are the better team, and that they're tougher more imposing too hard to beat multivariability. But Taylor Swift stood up to Trump during the election and now he's causing all kinds of trouble for North America, normally I would find the Swift/Kelce relationship too melodramatic, but under these circumstances, it's bona fide heroism 💌. Nevertheless, I'm still a Broncos fan and I find at the end of the day it's tough to pick Kansas City. I like Mahomes and Andy Reid, they're awe-inspiring. But their success is even more irritating than New England's. Picking the Eagles. Hopin' they win the rematch. 🏈

 

Black Orpheus

Rio de Janeiro festively prepares for the upcoming enigmatic illusory Carnaval, floats decorated and costumes tailored an immersive atmosphere of harmless mischief.

Nimble Orpheus chauffeurs his trolly through the busy streets with reservéd gusto, thoroughly at ease with lithe maximum occupancy as it swiftly travels throughout the city.

Young Eurydice arrives from the countryside to stay with her invigorating distant relatives, having been chased by a masked quasi-demon rigorously hellbent on her destruction.

Orpheus's fiancé habitually erupts with romantic exposition when they're together, and definitively craves his ubiquitous attention each and every day exceedingly composed.

They even spiritedly head out to meaningfully procure a marriage license, Mira focused and passionately determined to resonantly claim the celebrated singer.

But later in the day as time slowly passes beautiful Eurydice also catches his eye.

The dynamic artist following instinctual elements. 

As everyone embraces ye olde Carnaval.

A lively retelling of an ancient myth energetically situated within modern cities, with creative new features and an inspiring setting transformatively exclaiming romantic awe.

It's not even Orpheus/Breno Mello or Eurydice/Marpessa Dawn who steal the show they're somewhat subdued when objectively compared, to sprightly Mira/Lourdes de Oliveira and vehement Serafina/Léa Garcia who add so much in the brief time they're allotted.

Serafina could have been left out entirely her tempting character by no means essential, but Garcia took the less prominent role and seductively etherealized cinematic history.

It's not just the imaginative retelling of the ancient myth that generates so much credit, its compelling presentation of the market and Carnaval bring its animate emergence to acrobatic life.

Gymnastically adorning so many precious scenes with blithe orchestration and reverberating pith, it fluidly exemplifies perpetual motion with lighthearted irresistible ebullient spirits.

Indeed relationships problematize so much harmless fun when ownership's claimed.

A sincere tragedy no matter the epoch.

Carefree endeavours.

Limitless fun.

When I was growing up, mainstream journalism severely critiqued free trade in Canada. You could hardly pick up a newspaper that didn't offer dissenting opinions about it (especially around election time). It's largely faded from the press as the news has become more and more corporate over the last 15 years (and cut hundreds and hundreds of jobs)(perhaps not in Québec). Cool to see the resurgence skilfully blooming this frigid winter. Isn't it time for the systemic investment in local imaginative Canadian and Québecois invention?  

Ulastelig størrelse. Modig motstandskraft. ukrainsk utholdenhet.

Removing the Palestinians from Gaza and then turning it into a resort is an idea so ridiculous I don't really know how to respond to it, except to offer condemnation, hope that cooler heads prevail, and pray for the people of Gaza. I've never encountered this type of political super-villainy before. 😕

Onberispelijke omvang. Moedige veerkracht. Oekraïense vasthoudendheid.

Nausicaa

* Glad I'm not lining up month after month of gruelling resistance themed films. Did manage to find this one by accident on Saturday evening though (I was searching for an Agnès Varda film, but didn't think it would be fascist related). 

In 1967, a harsh military dictatorship suddenly took control of Greece, where it ruled for 7 inauspicious years as people everywhere around them mobilized. 

Imaginative French filmmaker Agnès Varda made the film Nausicaa to commend Greek exiles, who were forced to flee the degenerate lies and systematic torture of the fascist regime. 

Finding themselves in France they fortunately found international networks, and were able to defend democratic freedoms with receptive audiences worldwide.

Unfortunately, as her film was being put together insensitive authorities seized most of what had been produced, and never explained to her why they were taking it, it's thought that the material was subsequently destroyed.

But the Royal Belgian Cinémathèque kept one copy and delicately preserved it, which is now available on The Criterion Channel for those seeking informative and creative texts.

It interviews artists and journalists as they explain the troubles they had with the army, and attempt to find work and lodging in France while reflecting on Greek politics.

The call for widespread resistance took time to find an active audience, but eventually championed the compassionate rights of people who prefer not to join the military.

Nausicaa is also quite experimental it eclectically presents different storytelling styles, loosely adorning one Greek citizen's experiences as he meets a woman whose daughter's half Greek (I believe the daughter is supposed to be Varda).

The ways in which state media outlets mask the truth in order to offer unrealistic pictures of sociopolitical dilemmas are showcased, along with investigations into the general political awareness of France at the time (note how the left recently still dealt a crippling blow to the French right), and thoughtful looks at Greece's culture in the '60s.

Please don't equate my new style of poem with what Nausicaa calls "Medieval Obscurantism". I thought I was writing absurd catchy surrealist poems that are like puzzles, I'm not deliberately trying to sound difficult. 

Difficult to know what parts of the film would have been kept or altered or augmented if it had moved forward, but there's still enough left in this working draft to generate more comment than most of what's out there.

A cool look at the French New Wave applied to television.

The dictatorship didn't last long.

Varda is worth checking out.

I fully support a Canada-wide boycott of Amazon in support of Québec's workers. 

*Amazon recently fired over 1,700 of their workers in Québec after they tried to unionize.

Can't say I want to take that ride again.

Ready if things head down that path again nevertheless. 

That sensation you're feeling, is collective adrenaline, if you're used to thinking individualistically, you may have never really felt it before. 

I grew to learn and love it while living in Québec where things are much more collective, and it feels wonderful to play a small role as part of a larger community. 

It's cool when you're part of a group that's over 40 million strong though, eh!

I was so impressed with so many people.

Although the next time that happens I hope Canada and Québec are winning Olympic Hockey Gold! 🏒

Kobor immakulat. Reżiljenza kuraġġuża. Tenaċità Ukraina.