The Kite Runner

So last weekend I saw the Kite Runner on TV on Demand. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. (Although I wondered why the kite strings wouldn't just tangle up, but I don't know much about kite flying.) The movie and story combines the timeline of the present and past very well. You could see how the young Amir grows to be the older Amir. The story is about redemption for Amir for something he did (and didn't do) over twenty years earlier. You can see the deep seated guilt the older Amir has for the events that happened before he fled the country with his father. You can see that he still carried it even though he was young at the time. As Rahim Khan says this is Amir's chance to become good again. The story mostly centers on Amir and his friend Hassan, who along with his father is Amir's family servants. Hassan is "the best kite runner in Kabul" because he always know where the kite will land after it is cut. He is also fiercely loyal to Amir and defends him at every turn. Hassan is also a different race from Amir which causes conflict among other boys, beside the fact that his servant is also his best friend.

The changes in time also allow you to see the contrast between life before and after the Soviet invasion. Kabul late in the film seems dead and dangerous as opposed the Kabul earlier in the film with its streets full of people. Similarly, Amir and his father, who appear quite wealthy in Kabul, later appear to be struggling to making it when they are shown in the US.

The film also gives you a peak at the cultural norms. Family, respect, and perception seem to be very important to many of the main characters. The perception aspect seem especially strong at the end of the film.

The Kite Runner has a great story and plot. The movie is rich with situations that allow characters to grow, symbolic importance, and redemption.

Seinfeld reunion, kind of. Too bad I've never had HBO otherwise I might have been a fan.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/07/tca_seinfeld_reunion_on_curb_y.html

I've been watching the Ascent of Money on PBS for the past week and have found it very interesting. You can view all 4 hour episodes here http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/. The host uses money to explain our current crisis along with other historical events. While I think he might put too much emphasis on the role of money, it is a very interesting history of money and how finance and financial products have evolved. By describing the origins of today's finance system (bonds, stocks, insurance, derivatives), you get a better understanding of the economic history and how it relates to the present. I would definitely recommend watching.

Computers are taking over and there starting with Wall Street...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/business/24trading.html?_r=1&hp
But Shaq can't
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/07/shaq_denied_entrance_by_the_wh.html?wprss=dcsportsbog“

The Hangover

So I doubt I'll have time to post this often, but I'll try and keep it up. Anyway, I saw The Hangover this week and although its been out a while I thought I'd share my thoughts.

The Hangover was one of the funniest movies I've seen in theaters since Wedding Crashers. (On the other hand, I don't see many comedies in theaters.) All three leads, Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers), Ed Helms (The Daily Show, The Office), and Zach Galifiankis (Out Cold, various, and in this Fiona Apple video ) were all terrific. There were many funny situations and exchanges. Among my favorite was Carlos the Baby, Ed Helms missing a tooth (which I heard is actually true and incorporated into the movie), and when the valet pulls up in a police cruiser which they arrived in last night. A one of my favorite exchange goes something like this

Alan: I can't lose anyone else not after my Grandpa died.

Phil: I'm sorry, when did he die?

Alan: World War II

Phil: Fighting?

Alan: No, Vermont...Skiing in Vermont.

Zach Galifiankis was probably my favorite. He plays the loner/odd/slightly creepy/fiance's brother very well, if not over the top. Many of his lines are gems. The movie also sports a couple actors in bit parts from Old School. (One of them is the director and the other is the wedding band)

Anyway, if you looking for a smart comedy, a movie with a lot of depth, or a dramedy this probably isn't the right film for you. If you're looking for a movie with a lot of cheap laughs, immature humor, and a slight mystery this movie is probably what your looking for. A great film to unwind to.

If I only had a few million to spare...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-bargain-mansions-27-jul27,0,3574823.story

Didn't I say computers were taking over?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html?hpw

The Password is food

Lunch?
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/1675651,pioneer-press-chuck-072309-s1.article

Maybe not...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-fi-hot-dog23-2009jul23,0,792015.story

Well tweet the location...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/business/smallbusiness/23twitter.html?em

Lou Dobbs....Hulk...Smash
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/la-et-onthemedia22-2009jul22,0,5102780.column

Cutler a newspaper column saver?
http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=308480

Springfield never gets this bad
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/when-legislators-attack/?hp
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/12/19/chaos-in-south-korean-parliament-as-politicians-brawl-plus-the-top-10-political-punch-ups-115875-20981066/

Y! Sports all-time non Super Bowl lineup
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AuT8HXxpr6xb5i56O8syyf45nYcB?slug=jc-nonsuperbowlteam072209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I thought I was losing my hearing...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072002984.html?hpid=sec-world

Slowly reving the engine

After a long absence, I'm thinking of restarting the blog. Here are a few interesting stories:

ESPN aims to take over the world starting with Chicago http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/business/media/20espn.html?hpw

A Darwinian vision of Japan's cellphones
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/technology/20cell.html?hpw

A subprime mortgage company by any other name...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/business/20modify.html?hp

Boozer?
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2291
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/smith_090720.html