Mestizaje

I watched Twilight Samurai for the first time last month, and discovered my new (second) favorite short (in length) movie fight. Number one is, of course, when we first meet Kyuzo in Seven Samurai. Third is the Magnificent Seven equivalent to Kyuzo, Britt, with his knife skills. Fourth, of course, is Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I wonder at my great love for samurai films, in particular Kurosawa's, but other well-loved films, too. What is it about these ronin that inspire hope and admiration? Anyway, here are the clips of favorite short-length fights: (Needless to add, these are all FANTASTIC movies, and please see the whole film if you haven't!) (1). Kyuzo in Seven Samurai (2). Twilight Samurai (3.) Magnificent Seven  - bringing a knife to a gun fight I must really just like those quiet, humble but confident and talented men, like Kyuzo and Britt. Yum. (4.) Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark  - bringing a gun to a sword fight

For some reason I got into a Stevie Ray Vaughan kick tonight, and it turns out to be a week from the 22nd anniversary of his death. I always want to cry if I think about him too much, and tonight I did. His guitar & music make me feel such joy, such elation in my body and heart, and I become overwhelmed at the knowledge that he is no longer around, though I have known this for most of my life. My dad tells me every time I mention SRV that he had the privilege to see the great man in concert a few weeks before his death, and though Dad has told me many times, I never stop him, knowing that he mourns in a way, too. (I especially get emotional when I hear Stevie Ray play " Little Wing ", because it also makes me think of Jimi Hendrix .) Anyway.

1. Beethoven in "1, 2 Ultraviolento" by Los Violadores (Argentina, 1985) "1, 2 Ultraviolento" is directly inspired by the fantastic A Clockwork Orange  movie, whose main character, as we should all know, is a big fan of Ludwig Van. The beginning of this Los Violadores song plays off Beethoven's Ode to Joy  from his 9th Symphony. A sample of Beethoven's genius: The movie music from A Clockwork Orange  (by Wendy Carlos) "1, 2 Ultraviolento" by Los Violadores. The lyrics use language from the book, as spoken by the droogs, for example. Knowing the influence of the song and the year of its release makes it a rather perfect sound from an Argentinian punk band from that time, no? 2. Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) in "Cromagnon" by Korroskada (Basque Country, 1980's) A song featuring the opening minute from Also sprach being used in a song "Cromagnon" immediately makes me think that the band was inspired b

This came in today: I have been silently (ok, maybe also aloud) squealing in excitement since. I LOVE HARRYHAUSEN! I grew up loving The Clash of the Titans (which I also own) and Jason and the Argonauts--not surprisingly because of my deep love for Greek mythology--and I have always loved the Harryhausen monsters from the Sinbad films. There's something so beautiful about these creatures; I am partial to Medusa, but the scene that never fails to excite me is the skeleton fight at the end of Jason and the Argonauts. Here's a handy and awesome list of The 11 Greatest Harryhausen monsters. While reading the description of the films on each DVD, I got stuck on the theme/character of Sinbad. I get stuck easily, I know, but when there's a fire in my eyes I gotta add fuel, ya know? Sinbad. What kind of name is that? Sinbad the Sailor. What is his origin? What was his original story? How many films were made? How have the tales of Sinbad into the present deviat

I am working on a few projects right now--the search for employment also involves mountains of free time. Having finished Aladdin's Lamp: How Greek Science Came to Europe Through the Islamic World --I took notes and asked and answered questions of what I learned and already knew--I started on The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000 , again using the same note-taking process. It's the only way I can process information.  I have also started reading Age of Aztec , having finished the others in the Pan the on .  I began a project involving reading Jane Eyre  and watching the films, I read twitter updates from the futbol world, my dad and I have taken to watching one or two episodes of Star Trek Enterprise  every night for a month now, I play soccer on three teams, volunteer at the local museum, take care of the doggies...Needless to say, Reader, I am making my way quite slowly through my projects.  Tonight I finished watching Seven Samurai   wit

Saw this movie for the first time a few months ago, and it was perfect. I love Toshiro Mifune, I love samurai films-particularly those of Kurosawa-I love Charles Bronson, and I love when Westerns can be connected to the samurai ideal, like with The Magnificent Seven , plus I love how friggin' diverse Red Sun  is. ( Google Images ) Now to the music... (again, all songs I discovered this year) 21. Los Caminantes - "Entre mas lejos me vaya" It ain't the suits, if you're wondering, the hair--the video, in all--that drew me to this song. I can't put my finger on why it touched me so, but.. I love this song. I sing it loudly at a local Mexican bar when it comes on. 22. Chencha Berrinches - "Esperando la muerte" I have been looking for Chencha songs since I heard, and fell in love with, " Murcielaga ", which I'd heard on a compilation. Thanks to YouTube, there are now a few more songs, but this one I loved