good morning my pop friends! so last night i caught a screening of babel which stars brad pitt, cate blanchett, gael garcia bernal, & koji yakusho - i didn't read too much about this movie before seeing it - i knew i really enjoyed the previous films of director alejandro gonzalez inarritu (amores perros, 21 grams) so i had a feeling i would enjoy it - i just had no idea that i would fucking love it! it's definitely not a movie for everyone - it's very intense and quite gut wrenching at times - but the way the story unfolds and is told - kept me literally on the edge of my seat! there were plenty of moments where you could say 'oh my word!'
i totally dig films where a series of events sets off another and things start to come unraveled - there were four basic stories told that intertwined and blended together - i'm sure some will say the film is a bit sadistic and overindulgent but i found it to be a beautifully stunning experience - the director so knows how to capture the flavor of each country that is explored within the film - from japan to mexico to morocco - the director cut back and forth from each story unfolding - keeping things interesting - not a film you could fall asleep while watching - you're just dying to know how it will all come crashing together at the end...
gosh i was completely satisfied - and not having known a lot about the movie - it was a very pleasant surprise! (if i read too much about a movie before i see it - i end up having preconceived notions which are not cool to bring to a film) the performances from each and every actor were incredible (my favorite performance was from adriana barraza who plays the meixcan nanny 'amelia') i would love to see some oscar nominations for this film (don't forget those awards are just around the corner) i'll be curious now to hear what other people thought of babel...i would imagine it's one of those films that people will love or hate - but either way no one can discount the incredible job done by the director - plus the soundtrack was kick-ass too and i'll be picking that up when it lands in stores on nov 21st but you can go see the film right now as it opens everywhere today! (i posted the trailer below as well) popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out--detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple’s frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo.
Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief.
In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost--lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves--as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love.
HOT LINKS! † rihanna is on the prowl for a well endowed guy! cele|bitchy † suri cruise and her bear play a little cautionary limbo popsugar † michael jackson's face appeared in an ultrasound? gawker † what does pamela anderson look like without make-up? celebslam † oh how gross ... amy winehouse's breast implants were leaking! dlisted †have you seen carmen electra's sex tape yet?egotastic
BABEL WAS BRILLIANT (BUT INTENSE!)
Very nice review MK i love it,thanks.I cant wait to see the movie because i like the director too.
» this comment was posted by Sarah on november 10, 2006 1:11 pm «
BIG thanks for the review. I'm there.
» this comment was posted by Marqs on november 11, 2006 10:13 am «
I read your blog from time to time....and I'm really starting to feel as though you may possibly have the worst taste in movies.....ever.
I saw Babel yesterday with my mom and couldn't have thought of any worse way to spend two hours and twenty minutes. She agreed as well. The movie was pointless and everything that happened could have been summed up in 20 minutes easy. Just because a director makes a movie long, doesn't mean it's any good.
You're totally entitled to your opinion, I just don't understand it for the life of me.
» this comment was posted by Jessica on november 13, 2006 1:26 pm «
Actually i am starting to like more and more your blog, the others are so hateful, i stoped going to, i loved BABEL, but i can understand others people dont liking it
Brad was hot and i wish he gets nom for the Oscars
» this comment was posted by aninha on november 13, 2006 1:46 pm «
MK is right on the money (as usual) about Babel. It is an intense experience created by people working at the top of their craft -- actors, writer, director, editor, music supervisor, etc. It's thought-provoking after its over and hugely emotionally engaging while you're watching it. And to Jessica (and her mom) -- you, dears, need to learn how to experience movies on a more sophisticated level. Movies are essentially emotional experiences -- you give yourself over to them and they work or they don't on a subconscious level -- you laugh, you cry, you hope, you freak, you fret, you lose yourself in the ride. The plot and "did it work/didn't it work' analysis comes afterward when your brain kicks in. Saying the action of a film could have been summed up in "20 minutes easy," is completely missing the point of what a work of art/entertainment is supposed to accomplish. Thank the gods, MK gets it. And the Japanese actress who played the teen has GOT to get an Oscar nom!
» this comment was posted by Katie on november 13, 2006 2:19 pm «
I enjoy many movies on an emotional level....but only if they are good movies and tug at my emotions.
This, was not one of those movies.
This is only my opinion. Some of it was engaging and most of the movie was very visually appealing, but that was all for me.
Looked pretty.....very bland and boring substance.
Again....my opinon....see for yourself and decide!
» this comment was posted by Jessica on november 13, 2006 3:27 pm «
I totally disagree: Babel was too long, untight in its argumentation and politically correct bordering on naive. Hans Zimmer pretending to be Shakespeare.
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Very nice review MK i love it,thanks.I cant wait to see the movie because i like the director too.