A whimsical coming of age tale from New Zealand

Jan. 1 Boy: Here is the movie review to Boy.

A whimsical coming of age tale from New Zealand

Jay Stone, Postmedia News

Published: Friday, May 04 2012

REVIEW
Boy Rating 3 1/2
Starring: James Rolleston, Taika Waititi, and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Classification: 14A, coarse language, substance abuse
Theatre: Metro at the Garneau, Fri., Thu. 7; Sat. 1, 9; Sun. 3: 30, 9; Tue. 9

Boy is the nom-de-whimsy of a Maori boy of about 11 who lives, with maximum enthusiasm, on a picturesquely unadorned bay in New Zealand with his younger brother, several cousins and his grandmother.
It's 1984, and in the surreal coming-of-age film Boy, we learn just about everything we need to know about him in the opening shot, as Boy addresses us during the Who Am I? class at his school: His favourite person is Michael Jackson. His father, who is absent, is a master carver, deepsea diver and captain of the rugby team. (Translation: He's in jail.) He has a crush on a tall girl named Chardonnay ("look at me," he urges silently). His mother is dead. His confidante is his pet goat. His favourite subjects are art, social studies and Michael Jackson.

Boy was written and directed by Taika Waititi, who also costars as the father, a reprobate who returns to visit his family and then to disillusion them. Like Waititi's previous film, the romance Eagle vs. Shark, it is charming and surreal, although it calms down eventually into a coming-of-age story that settles for being quirky and predictable. It is nonetheless charming for that.

It stars a young newcom-r named James Rolleston, ho gives Boy an infectious optimism and perhaps the most winning smile in cinema. Boy is based on Waititi's own upbringing - it was filmed on Waihau Bay, where he lived - and it reflects a sort of genial poverty that doesn't fall into bitterness. There are undercurrents of disenfranchisement in Boy, but, unlike, say, the excoriating Maori drama Once Were Warriors, it treats them as fond comedy rather than violent desperation.

Enlivened with the occasional animated children's drawing, Boy establishes a precise culture where, for instance, a teacher can ask his class, "Who knows what disease this sheep has?"
When another teacher tells Boy he has "potential," he is struck by the idea.
"What does that word mean?" he asks. "Potential."
"It's 3: 30, man" says the teacher, heading out the door. "I'm off duty."

Things change when Boy's father Alamein shows up with two dopey henchmen. They're wearing gang colours and call themselves the Crazy Horses East Coast, but they turn out to be nothing much more than comical sidekicks. Alamein parades around in leathers and an army helmet, and decides he wants to be known as Shogun, after the James Cavell novel. He's full of self-delusion and camaraderie - as well as stories about his new favourite movie, E.T. - and Boy gazes at him with happy hero worship.

The movie settles into a sort of rambling inevitability, as Boy and his brother Rocky (Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, another scene-stealer) watch their father stumble through his extended adolescence.
He has buried some money in a field, but he can't remember quite where ("It's a certain number of steps from the post. I just can't remember the numbers of steps. Or the post"), and much of Boy is taken up with people digging random holes in a field, or rather, Boy digging holes, while his dad and the other Crazy Horses smoke marijuana and watch.

Boy is a very likable movie, but it's slight, even by the off the-cuff standards of the New Zealand culture it depicts. We know where it's heading: The charm is in how it gets there, and in the lovely accents it takes on (a marijuana smoker is a "dopeheed"). It's a unique voice, and a unique vision. Like Boy, Taika Waititi has potential.

http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=2d4b0606-3d7d-4f1f-bce1-f0608144d3eb

Dads: I watched the sitcom Dads when it came out.  It’s from Family Guy producers Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild.  You can really see the similar humor.  

It starts off with Eli (Seth Green) and Warner (Giovanni Ribisi) working at Ghost Child where they create video games.  The opening credits shows pictures of dad with their sons, so it’s sentimental.

Warner has a wife Camilla (Vanessa Lachey) and 2 kids.  Eli is single and lives in a penthouse.  Veronica (Brenda Song) is an Asian woman.  I read an article about the show and she said when guys hit on her, she says “No English.”

Eli has a Mexican maid Edna (Tonita Castro), which is so Family Guy.  Veronica also dressed up like a school girl to woo the Chinese investors.  When she came out looking like that, the audience says: “Whoo.”  She did say: “I’m now a VP and I’m taking next week off.”  Yeah, well if you’re going above and beyond for your job by dressing like that, then you should be rewarded with a week off.

The above is my left-brain thinking about work.  Now here is my left-brain thinking about investing. 
I did like this one part.  Warner’s dad Crawford (Martin Mull) and Eli’s dad David (Peter Reigart) both come into town to visit their sons.  The dads go to meet each other for lunch.  

Crawford: That’s the thing with investment managers.  Giving money to a guy in a suit and tie to make more money with it.  If he doesn’t, then I understand.

I was reading Rahmit Sethi’s book I Will Teach You to be Rich, and Sethi says we should do our own investing instead of getting an investment manager.

The meeting with the Chinese investors.  There is the “Kill Hitler 2” video game.  I can totally see that on Family Guy.  Crawford shows up at the meeting and Warner tries to stop him.  Crawford says: “You can’t trust the Chinese.  That’s why Shanghai is a verb.”  They lose the deal.

Eli’s dad David is at the Eli’s birthday party.

David: I wouldn’t have ruined it if I had the correct pronunciation of Shiite.

My little brother was watching it with me and he laughed.

Later we learn that David didn’t make a few payments and lost his condo.  Eli says: “You could have asked me to loan the money.”  David ends up moving in with Eli.  The show kind of redeems itself here.

The ending is Veronica comes in: “The translator sent me a pic of his penis, and I threatened to put it up online unless he convinced the Chinese investors on the deal.”

They got the deal.

My opinion: I will give points for ethnic diversity on the show.  They do have big names on this show.  Now onto the actual writing: I didn’t really like it.  I’m not into sitcoms, and I’m kind of eh with Family Guy.  I only watch that show here and there, and there are only one or two jokes that are actually good.

I didn’t watch it after the pilot.  If you like Family Guy and the actors on the show, then you might enjoy it.

Your opinion needed: Write for Rights

Dear Tracy, This December, you were part of something incredible. You  were one of more than 50 thousand people who stood up for  human rights. You sent hope to prisoners of conscience and  survivors of human rights abuses. Now – one last thing to do before Wednesday. Please tell  us about your Write for Rights experience so we can  measure our impact and make next year's event even better. As a bonus, we'll enter you to win one of our iconic Amnesty  candles – after shining a light of hope with your letters, you  can quite literally shine a light this new year. You'll be entered  when you complete the Write for Rights survey. Our work is far from over. We will continue to call for  justice on behalf of all ten cases of the individuals  and communities featured in this year's Write for Rights  and for others around the world and here in the United States.  And we will continue to call on you to help us in that work. But, as 2013 comes to a close, I hope you take a moment   to celebrate your work as a human rights defender this year. Thank you for all you do to promote and defend human rights.  Now, we ask you to take the final step for Write for Rights  this year. Please take our quick Write for Rights  survey before January 8th. In Solidarity, The Write for Rights Team Amnesty International USA

Robin Thicke/ David Anders/ Post Secret

Dec. 17 Robin Thicke: I watched his new music video called “Feel Good” which is one of my favorite songs on his album.  It’s a different kind of video.  He’s on a stage and the dancers are in burlesque outfits and dancing in front of a big screen in the back.  The big screen changes from sunset to different graphics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8encaI8ToqY

Dec. 29: I follow Thicke on Twitter and he tweeted a picture where he’s with a young woman lying in a hospital bed.  It’s from the young woman named Bree, @breeee_aye.

That was nice of RT to visit her.

https://twitter.com/breeeee_aye/status/412314171410493440/photo/1

Winter: My parents were supposed to drive to Calgary this weekend.  They told me they were going there and I could ask my work to book a couple of days off to go.  I decided not to because it’s the busiest time of the year at the restaurant.  The job needs me and I want to make money.

Then my parents decided to not go there because it was snowing and it’s -15 out there.  That’s what happened earlier this year in Jan.  We were supposed to go to Calgary, and then there’s a huge snow storm so the night before we decided not to go.  When my parents told me that they were going in December, I had low expectations of the trip actually taking off.

Jan. 1: Here is something about my health:

Dec. 22 Health: I got food poisoning again.  Earlier this year I did.  I didn’t know what it was until it happened a week later.  One night I had steak and I was fine.  The next night I ate leftover steak and I got sick.  Next week I had a little bit of a leftover steak and I had the same symptoms.  So be careful with leftover steak.

On Thurs. there was macaroni and cheese.  I decided to put in the fridge and save it for tomorrow.  On Fri. I ate it.  Hours later I felt sick and threw it up.  On Sat. I was so sick from it I called into work and said I wasn’t coming in.  Let’s just say I was in the washroom a lot. 

Today is Sun. and I went to work.  I wasn’t feeling that well so I only worked in the morning.  I didn’t have a lot energy because I was out of breath.

Dec. 23: I feel my health improved because I worked into the afternoon because they needed me.

Jan. 1 Stress: The last two weeks of Dec. was really busy at the restaurant.  I remember the first week of Jan. was very busy last year.  I was mentally prepared of how stressful it was going to be.

I was also physically prepared because I had a good night’s rest before work.  All the workers worked together and we were able to manage it, so that’s good.

I also relieve stress by writing my weekly email/ blog.

David Anders: Remember how I mentioned an email in my draft folder that was deleted?  Then when I sent it out, I got it bounced back to me, and I can read the email.  Well here it is:

I’m a big fan of David Anders when he came on Alias.  I knew that he was on the Olsen twins show So Little Time.  It’s a sitcom and I have seen pics of him where he is a high school senior.  I finally found it Youtube.  This is one of the rare times where you don’t hear him with his British accent.

He’s American.  This is back in 2001 before he got on Alias.  Cut to the cafeteria and the twins Riley and Chloe are sitting with the seniors.

Riley: They’re reading college catalogues.

Chloe: That is just so senior.  Texas A&M.

Riley: Georgetown.

The seniors notice them.

Chloe: It was her idea to sit here.

Anders: Well it’s a good school, you should check it out.

He hands her the book.

Riley: Us?  College?  You don’t understand, we’re just lowly freshman.

Chloe: We have a long time before we have to worry about college.

Asian girl: That’s what we thought.  But you would be surprised how fast those four years go by. 

Chloe starts flipping through the book.

Anders: No, don’t read them here!

Chloe and Riley get scared and run away.

I actually laughed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8_YPAowSjo

Sylvester Stallone art: Did you know that he is also a painter too?  Check out his art:

http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/the-juice-celeb-news/just-call-him-rambobrandt-see-sylvester-stallone-art-203412487.html

Post Secret: Here are some that I collected:

Oct. 6:

"When my boyfriend sends me naughty pics, I SAVE THEM, so I can use them against them if he cheats."

Me: Remember I wrote about sexting?  That time I was listening to 91.7 The Bounce radio station, and a caller said if you were to take sexy pictures of yourself, don’t have your head or face in the picture so they can’t identify you.

"Online dating helped me realize how happy I am ALONE."

"My mom found a condom wrapper, which lead to my dad confessing his infidelity, and their divorce.  It was mine."

A picture of 2 soldiers: "I only went there in hopes to die a hero rather than do it myself and die a coward."

"I put so much emphasis on brains because I know I'll never have beauty."

A picture of a woman who has a cut on her face: "I think if I were less pretty people would like me for my personality rather than my looks.  Sometimes I think about doing something about it."

"Plan B was to drive off this road.  Plan A has been worth the fight."

"Just remember, I am strong enough to be my own hero."

Nov. 3: "I don't want to be an engineer anymore."

"I wish that my rapist would have killed me!"

I always wonder if Aileen Wuornos shot those men in the penis!  I would have..."

Me: I had to look her up.  On Wikipedia:

Aileen Carol Wuornos (February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was a serial killer who killed seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990. Wuornos claimed that her victims had either raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute, and that all of the homicides were committed in self-defense. She was convicted and sentenced to death for six of the murders and was executed by the State of Florida by lethal injection on October 9, 2002.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos

"When I told my mom my IQ score, she said 'That can't be right. I mean that's an impossible score for someone like you or me." I wanted nothing more that to say to her 'No, it's just impossible for you.'"

There is a picture of the IQ test.  She got 134 which is above average.

Me: I don’t care about those IQ tests.  They ask only certain questions.  If it was all math, then I would probably get a low score because I’m not good at math.  There are also several types of intelligence like physical (ex. dancing) and machines. 

Entrepreneurs don’t have to go take business in college.  Sometimes you can have a real passion for things and then they learn everything they can to put their business together and succeed. 

ACTION NEEDED: Appeal hearing for last Angola 3 prisoner

The end. There is only one just and humane action that the Louisiana authorities can take. Tell them to free Albert Woodfox today. http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=520358&msource=W1401EAIAR1B Dear Tracy, This could be the end of Albert Woodfox's 40-year plus prison nightmare, if you act now. On Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hold a hearing to determine Albert's fate. Will they finally act on the 2013 ruling that overturned his conviction and set him free, or shut the door and send him back to another unthinkable year in solitary confinement? Federal courts have overturned Albert's conviction 3 times. The state of Louisiana has appealed 3 times. Enough is enough. Tell the state of Louisiana to end its campaign of vengeance and let Albert go. Nothing can justify the cruel treatment that Louisiana authorities have inflicted on Albert, one of the famed Angola 3 prisoners. For decades, the authorities have punished Albert with solitary confinement. He's survived 40 years living in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, denied meaningful human contact and rehabilitation. In a deeply flawed verdict, Albert was convicted of murder even though no physical evidence ties him to the crime, the state lost potentially exculpatory evidence, and authorities bribed their key witness. Albert maintains he was put in solitary confinement in retaliation for organizing prisoners against segregation and other abuses in Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as "Angola". It's simply unconscionable for the state to hold this man one day longer. Please help Amnesty International demand freedom for Albert Woodfox. Please take action before the Jan. 7 hearing. Thanks for standing by Albert, and for all you do to defend human dignity for all. Sincerely, Jasmine Heiss Campaigner, Individuals and Communities at Risk Amnesty International USA

8 Incredible Things You've Done This Year

We never give up. Join us. Dear Tracy, Before 2013 comes to a close, let's celebrate the good that you made possible this year. Imagine how much more we can accomplish with your support today: FREED – A year ago Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was behind bars. Today she is free and reunited with her family. SAVED – Beatriz, a 22-year old Salvadoran woman denied medical treatment by her government, was finally allowed to undergo the emergency procedure that saved her life. DELIVERED – At long last, the US signed an historic Arms Trade Treaty to help keep conventional weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers. RELEASED – Cambodian housing rights activist Yorm Bopha, arrested while peacefully defending the rights of her community, was released on bail. ABOLISHED – Maryland became the 18th state to abandon capital punishment, and the 6th state in 6 years to join the abolition club. EXPOSED – Together we alerted the world to the unimaginable horror experienced by 8-year-old Nabeela Bibi, who witnessed her grandmother blown to pieces by a US drone strike. PROTECTED – US lawmakers finally passed a strong and inclusive Violence Against Women Act, with new provisions protecting the safety of ALL women, not just some. AT PEACE – Terminally ill Angola 3 prisoner Herman Wallace was released from a horrific 41 years of solitary confinement. He died 3 days later, a free man, surrounded by friends and family. One thing's for sure - we never give up. Most of these human rights victories have been years in the making. Justice may not always be swift, but it is certain. Together we are an unwavering force for human dignity. BE THE LIGHT: Become a member of Amnesty International. Thank you for all you do to support human rights. In peace, Steven W Hawkins EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA P.S. Your gift will be multiplied by a group of passionate supporters, but only if we receive your donation by December 31. Thousands of donors have already taken advantage of this special opportunity – don't miss out! Please join now. *Photo by Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

A bold beginning

I got this from Amnesty International:

 https://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.6653385/k.A0E5/Monthly_Giving/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?msource=W13YEE10N



Happy New Year!

Dear Tracy,

Here we are – 2014. A brand new year filled with possibility.

Thank you for being one of the thousands of people who supported Amnesty International USA this past year. Thanks to a groundswell of generous donors we blew past our $500,000 year-end match goal! You helped make us a powerful force for human rights in the world.

And I'd like to give a special thanks to the 7,637 people who took a strong stand for human rights by joining our Partners of Conscience monthly giving program.

It will be hard to top 2013, especially since we ended on such an incredible high note.

In December human rights defenders like you sent a record-breaking 1.4 million messages during Write for Rights, our annual human rights write-a-thon. The sheer force of this 10-day global human rights event has already helped free Vladimir Akimenkov, one of the Bolotnaya 3 prisoners of conscience, from a Russian prison.

Not only Vladimir. Nasrin Sotoudeh, Yorm Bopha, Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova – each of these former prisoners of conscience owes their freedom in part to the unstoppable human rights movement you made possible through your support in 2013.

Your actions have made the world a better place.

Thank you for taking this journey with us. I can't wait to see what we accomplish together in the coming year.

I wish you and yours a peaceful and happy 2014.




In peace,
Steven W Hawkins
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA



P.S. I'm really excited about Amnesty USA's national human rights conference April 4-6 in Chicago. It's an exciting way to get involved with Amnesty, hear from inspiring speakers, and meet other individuals who are passionate about human rights. It's open to all Amnesty members – I hope to see you there!

Marvel Agents of SHIELD

Dec. 14 Marvel Agents of SHIELD: On Sept. 24, 2013, I saw the pilot to this show.  This show is created by Buffy creator Joss Whedon and his brother Jed Whedon.  Also Maurissa Tancharoen co-created it and she is married to Jed Whedon.

J. August Richards plays Mike Peterson.  He saves a woman from a building that is exploded.  He is well- known as playing Gunn on Whedon’s TV show Angel.  He takes his son with him after he saves her.

Grant Ward (Brett Dalton) takes glass from guy at a restaurant.  He uses the finger print to open a safe.  A hot woman is in the hotel room and sees him.  She doesn’t care.  Ward then gets word that there are guys coming after him.  He fights them off.  I like fight scenes.  He then grabs a rope from a helicopter on the roof and flies away.

Colbie Smulders (How I Met your Mother) is Agent Maria Hill.  They discuss this spin-off from the movie The Avengers.

Hill: The battle of NY was best.

They talk about super humans.

Mike is walking on street and Skye (Chloe Bennet) kind of follows him.  She looks Asian.  I see that she is half- Asian and half-white imdb.

The agents Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division see the

video of a Mike in a hood saving the woman from a building.

Skye goes up to Mike.

Skye: You can’t even find a job.  There are guys named SHIELD who will find you.

I’m really good at  computers.

Mike leaves and Skye gets his ID.

Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) creates the team.  He goes to Asian woman Melinda (Ming

-Na Wen) to join.

Melinda: I don’t want to be in the field.

Coulson: You will drive the bus.

Cut to the plane which is what Melinda will be driving.

Dec. 31: Cut to the plane.  A British guy Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Jemma (Elizabeth Henstridge) are arguing.  The plane is really nice.  That is so Joss Whedon to have British characters on his show.

Skye is in a van talking about how “You can’t find us.”  Coulson opens the van and they put a bag over her head.  Ward and Coulson interrogate Skye.

Melinda, Fitz and Simmons got to the building that blew up to investigate.

Coulson: I want to contain Mike.  Some want to dissect him.

Mike talks to a doctor: The experiment works.  I can’t go back to the factory because I can’t get worker’s comp.  

Back to the interrogation.

Skye: I found Centipede?

Ward: Centipede?

Cut to the investigation.  Fitz uses little computers to fly around the building and Melinda finds a camera. 

In the interrogation it looks like Coulson is going to inject Skye with truth serum, but then he puts it into Ward instead.  That is so unexpected and funny.  That’s Joss Whedon’s style.  It’s reversal of situation as Skye interviews Ward and asks: “Have you ever killed anyone before?”  Ward says: “Yes, a few.”

Cut to Mike at the factory and he is asking for his job back.  He says he’s stronger and shows his strength by pushing this huge machine.  Mike gets angry and throws boss into these pipes.

Coulson finds out about Mike.

Mike visits the woman at the hospital that he saved.

Woman: You’re juiced Mike.  You’re out of your mind.  Just like the last guy.  You exposed us.

Mike jumps out of the building.

That’s a good surprise.  You thought Mike was helping a woman, but she was part of the experiment. 

There is a video/ hologram of a man confronting a scientist.  There is this centipede on his arm.  It’s used for super soldiers.  

Mike approaches Melinda and Skye.  He throws Melinda out of the way.  He brings his kid Ace and gets Skye to drive them in the van.

Simmons: Mike is a bomb. 

Mike is glowing.

Fitz and Simmons: He will detonate in a few hours.  He would have to be killed.

Coulson: Think of something else, where a kid doesn’t lose his father.

The stakes are raised.

Skye deletes Mike’s files from the SHIELD.

Fitz and Simmons sees the security breach and it leads to Skye and Mike’s location.  They find the van at the train station.  Skye kicks a gang member in the crotch to create a distraction.

Skye: You’re right, he is a little bitch.

The gang members get angry and fight Mike.  Mike throws them around.  The Experiment people come and shoot at him.  The “Cop” who is really part of the Experiment come and shoots at Mike.  Melinda knocks out the Cop.  Coulson does a hostage negotiation talk to Mike.

Mike: You took my wife, house, and my job.  You told us if we work hard, we’ll be fine.

Fitz: You’re right Mike.  It matters who you are. 

A shot at Mike in the head.  He falls down.  Mike is blue.  Simmons checks him.

Simmons: Subject is in stable condition.

They drop off Mike at a nice house.

Coulson asks Skye: Do you want to join us?

Skye says yes.  The old car they’re sitting in turns into a flying car.

My opinion: I thought it was average.  I love Joss Whedon’s work on Buffy, Angel, and Dollhouse.  I will admit I didn’t really like his TV show Firefly because Fox cancelled one of my favorite TV shows Dark Angel to replace it with Firefly.  Also when I watched a few Firefly episodes, I thought it was average.  I did watch the Firefly movie Serenity and that was good.  I can’t love everything by Joss Whedon.

After I saw the pilot, I didn’t watch any more of it.  I have to get hooked after one episode.  I’m sure a lot of you guys are like: “I like to watch a few episodes before I decide if I want to keep watching this show.”

The Tomorrow People: After I emailed my review of this show, my friend Sherry told me she saw the original British show before.  I was like: “What?  This show is a remake?”  I then did some research and I see that it is a remake:  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tomorrow_People

Jan. 1 Avalanche Sharks: I read about this Syfy TV movie in the newspaper so I checked out the trailer.  It looks like sharks are swimming in a snowy mountain and you can see their fins in the snow as they bite people.  Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sotQoOngYno