Quote:I recently saw this, the original french voices with subtitles version. Based on the comic (and based on the author's experience.) It's about a young girl growing up in Iran during the 1979 revolution. While it does deal with specifics, it's really quite timeless and universal in a way.

Mostly done in black and white traditional animation, with some minor CGI tweaks, it's visually one of the most beautiful film I've ever seen. In my not so humble opinion, 'Persepolis' is to animation as 'Maus' is to comics.

It's not all doom and gloom serious though, it's got a wicked sense of humour about it and loads of charm. I find it real hard to dislike a brat who rocks out with her tennis racket as a guitar to a bootlegged tape of Iron Maiden.

What with the recent sabre rattling, and Ahmadineejad's crazy rantings given more legitimacy and importance than it's due, this film gives a much needed reminder that there are important differences between people. But there are equally important similarities between them.

But again, it's not all doom and gloom. There are moments in it where it's incredibly uplifting.
(Spoiler alert)
You might not hear 'Eye of the Tiger' quite the same way again.
Definitely one of my favourite parts of the film, among many.

5 Michael Jackson buttons out of 5 from me.

Quote:>I'm reading [b]Ahmadinejad: The Secret History of Iran's Radical Leader by Kasra Naji

I'm no expert on the Middle East situation, but just from what little I know and observed anyway. Even though Mahmoud has the title of president, he's not necessarily the top cheese. The Ayatollah seems to be. Again, at least from my own limited understanding of the matter.

That's what sort of caught my attention during Ahmadinejad's visit to NY and the university lecture. Most of the reaction shown in the media seems to be treating him as if he is the defacto supreme leader. And that kind of thing seems to be playing into his hand. It's obviously not impossible that Ahmadinejad perhaps, wants to be the head cheese and bypass the Ayatollah. It certainly wouldn't be the first time when looking at the history of the world. (One doesn't need to be a particular nationality to have a craving for power. That trait can show up in anyone. To me it's what they do with it that merits scrutiny.)

Quote:...
To tie it back into Persepolis, there's segments in that film that not only made me laugh, but convinced me even more that Iron Maiden and Godzilla movies had a similar effect as rock & roll and Levi's jeans did during the Cold War. IMO it's an alternative worthy of serious consideration compared to dropping bombs on their heads in order to 'save' them.

Quote: ... Anyone that loves their little corner of the world despite the problems, can recognize themselves in that scene. The particular geography and locations might be different, but the sentiment can be exactly identical.

Quote:I saw "No Country For Old Men" in the theatres, and I'm glad I did. There are scenes in that movie that really needs a big screen for the full impact.

Quote:On a side note, Tim Burton is by far the most overrated director currently working (perhaps that has ever worked). The guy has never done a movie that was even mediocre much less - *gasp* - good.

Quote:Wha? Do you remember the original Batmans with Keating? How about Beetlejuice? Burton was the only director of the original Batmans (pre Bale) that nailed the setting. A Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that finally had Dahl's family saying someone got it right. Granted, he's had some stinkers (Planet of the Apes comes to mind), but I would hardly say that he's done nothing but mediocre movies. Likewise, the man has never won an Oscar (and neither has Depp who very much deserves to have a couple Oscars). You can't really be overated in my book unless you're won some oscars and have then gone on to release some utter tripe and haven't returned to your prior Oscar level performances.