Friday, April 20, 2007

Technorati

Just trying to get this Technorati something or other to work for me. Says I should do this...

Technorati Profile

Hope this works!

Keep up the good working, commenting the entries.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Soundtrack

I was just checking out some snip-its from the soundtrack of Eternal Sunshine online, and I think I'm going to have to get this for myself.

I was actually trying to find out who did that catchy tune for the trailer...You know what I'm talking about if you've ever seen the trailer, because that beat just sticks with you. It turns out it's Mr. Blue Sky by ELO.

I was surprised to find that Beck also features a song in the film. It's called "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime," and I instantly knew when I heard it that I remember hearing it before, but I can't remember what part of the movie it's in. Welp, guess I'll have to watch it again soon.

The soundtrack also features some psychadelic tunes by Polyphonic Spree, some free spirit by The Willowz, and there's some Don Nelson on their as well.

The special features on the DVD features the Polyphonic Spree music video for "Light and Day." I am still not sure what I think of it. The video takes clips from the film and replaces the mouths or entire faces of the characters with lips that are in sync with the song, and when it's not a person actually lip syncing, it's other objects in the background, such as house siding and oven doors. My first impression was the video was a bit creepy. Then again, I've talked to some who have thought the Eternal Sunshine film itself is creepy, so perhaps it's fitting?

Anyway, seeing as how you're all doing so well with leaving comments on my first two posts, I expect a quite a turnout for this one. If you have the soundtrack already, what do you think of it? And does the music video for "Light and Day" creep you out too?

Thursday, April 5, 2007

"Eloisa and Abelard" by Pope Alexander...er, I mean Alexander Pope

http://www.monadnock.net/poems/eloisa.html

If you're a fan of the movie, make sure you read this poem. The verse that Mary recites to her boss and not-so-secret crush is a part of this poem, and the title of the movie is driven from it as well.

How happy is the blameless vessle's lot!
The world Forgotten by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd.

I will admit, I have not yet read the entire poem (it's a long one, you'll see, once you go to the link), but this verse alone is powerful and teeming with meaning. For me, it causes me to question my definition of a full life. If I could choose to erase bits of my life from my memory to recreate my own reality, would it lead to a life more fullfilling? It would no doubt be easier. If you were Clementine or Joel, would you have erased those painful memories of each other, and disregard true reality as unimportant, unecessary? Reconstruction of "reality" is themed in so many other forms of literature and film...

* Consider the stellar film, the Matrix; if you were Neo, would you choose the Red Pill or the Blue Pill?

* Read Aristotle's Cave Analogy; who lives the fuller life? Those who are shown neutural puppet shadows on the cave wall, and know nothing about the world outside, no matter how much more real, cheery or dreary, or those who have travelled outside the cave's perameters and discovered the sun, the moon, creatures, as well as death, cold and hatred?

* Review Genesis in the Bible. Were Adam and Eve's lives more fulfilling, more MEANINGFUL before or after eating from the Tree of Knowledge, and gaining understanding of the world as a whole, and the existence of Good and Evil? (If you are interested in this topic, you may wish to explore the Gnostic viewpoint about the Fortunate Fall.

Tell me YOUR thoughts. Is naivity truly bliss?

Thursday, March 29, 2007

A Values-Maturing Film

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, released in 2004, features lead roles by Jim Carey and Kate Winslet. Their characters, Joel and Clementine, make an odd match as their personalities are complete opposite from each other. Joel is a socially awkward character who spends much time inside his own head and writing in his journal. Clementine is a quarky, open book who expresses herself through the color of her hair. The relationship comes to an end, or so it seems, after two years.

Unlike most girls who cuddle up to two other men, Ben & Jerry, when a relationship ends, Clementine opts to visit a business called Lacuna Inc., which specializes in memory erasure. When Joel finds out that Clem erased every memory she ever had of him, he decides to get the procedure done as well. The majority of the movie follows Joel's subconscious as his memories of Clem are pulled away from him, one by one.

One of the most creative aspects presented is Joel's ability to manipulate his memories while revisiting them in his mind. Througout the procedure, Joel changes the endings to some of his memories, drags Clem into memories of his childhood where she doesn't belong, and narrates old memories with current opinions and reflections. In the process, Joel's subconscous becomes distressed and regrets the procedure, attempting to keep snip-its of Clem from vanishing.

This is just a quick summary of the movie. Before my blogs become more in-depth, I encourage you to please see the movie ASAP. Consider it an obligation to yourself to examine the value you put on both good and bad experiences, memory, individuality, relationships, and the complexity of the human mind. Then remember to come back to comment. Tell me what your first impressions are of the movie, and for those of you who have already seen it, let me know where it ranks on your list of Favorites.