2001: A Space Odyssey "The Dawn of Man"

2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. Thoughts on the opening chapter "The Dawn of Man." Does the appearance of the geometric shape represent a contamination of the organic pristine environment by technology of civilization. Apes pick up bones discover tools and weapons the technology for civilization. Implications that carnivores are associated with aggression. Spread of civilization will be the theme of human history on earth. Exploration, war and conquest. Fast forward to an environment completely void of anything organic. Warfare has evolved from bones to nuclear weaponry. Human civilization has expanded exploration and conquest to space.

American Psycho's Misogynism: Gloria Steinem, I Disagree

Just got through looking at American Psycho and as usual to indulge my compulsion; looking up movie Wikipedia entry. Well it says:

Feminist activist Gloria Steinem was among those opposed to the release of Ellis' book because of its portrayal of violence towards women. Steinem is also the stepmother of Christian Bale, who portrayed Bateman in the film adaptation of the novel.

My thoughts are that misogynists are a fact of life. Men are most often misogynistic more often than not; therefore, the author is simply making his statements about the reality of a misogynistic superficial desensitized contemporary culture. I don't see this sexually explicit and violence novel as a promotion of either the sex or the violence but as exaggerated allegorical expression of what already exists.

More on Max and Ingmar

Its well known Ingmar Bergman saw film as art, not commercial ventures. Ingmar Bergman's films I highly recommend are The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries.(He usually recast the same team of actors which included Max Von Sydow)

Berman's "Death" in Seventh Seal is not such a campy "Grim Reaper" (it's not Max)

I adored his semi-autobiographical Fanny and Alexander, a less abstract color film that was aimed at a broader audience, but was also criticized within the profession for being shallow and commercial. With a childs point of view of good vs. evil in a Swedish 18th century festive Christmas setting I didn't need the subtitles to enjoy this bountiful tapestry of visually delightful costumed charactors. Max, however, missed out on playing the evil bishop.

Max is still handsome! Also still employed. I was shocked to see his filmography extend through 2009. I didn't realize he's Chief Inspector Lee in Rush Hour 3! What a career!

Ingmar Bergman's film,The Virgin Spring

The statuesque Max Von Sydow before and after the evil deeds.


Review Summary
Inspired by a medieval Swedish ballad, Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (Jungfrukallan) begins with a scene of unspeakable brutality and ends with an image of uncommon beauty. 15-year-old Birgitta Peterson, on her way to church to light candles for the Virgin Mary, is raped and murdered by two older men. The men look for shelter at the home of Birgitta's father (Max Von Sydow), who murders the bestial killers in cold blood. When the deed is done, Von Sydow, a deeply religious man, begins to question the efficacy of a God that would allow his daughter's death, then permit so bloody a retribution. Then, a fresh, virgin spring bubbles from the ground where his daughter had been lying a few moments before. Taking this natural phenonenon as a sign from above, Von Sydow vows to erect a church on the spot where Birgitta met her doom. The winner of the "best foreign picture" Academy Award, The Virgin Spring currently exists in several versions of varying lengths; the longest, and most graphic, is the original Swedish cut. Believe it or not, this hauntingly beautiful film served as the basis of The Last House on the Left (1972). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:52855
DVD information:http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=321

My Thoughts:
I just caught the end. Max's sculpted features caught my attention while channel surfing.The actors portray the story with minimal speaking, yet with great range and depth. Max's conversation with God was so moving. He communicated the devastating gut wrenching emotions without need to understand the foreign language or read subtitles. These were simple ordinary God-fearing humans faced with an extraordinary situation,with primal human reactions.

His gripping plea to God is worth my noting:

Töre: You see it, God, you see it. The innocent child's death and my revenge. You allowed it. I don't understand you. Yet now I beg your forgiveness. I know no other way to be reconciled with my own hands. I know no other way to live.

Töre: You see it, God. You see it. The innocent child's death, and my revenge. You allowed it. I don't understand You. I don't understand You. Yet, I still ask your forgiveness. I know no other way to live. I promise You, God... here on the dead body of my only child, I promise you that, to cleanse my sins, here I shall build a church. On this spot. Of mortar and stone... and with these, my hands.

Töre: Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with Your host of angels, deliver us today from the devil's chokehold. God, grant that neither temptation, shame, nor danger befall thy servants this day. Amen.

Töre: You are not alone, Mareta. And God alone bears our guilt

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053976/quotes