Battle in Seattle - In Theaters Now

Last night, we watched Battle in Seattle at the Angelika Theater. After the film, there was a Q&A session with director Stuart Townsend and stars Charlize Theron and Martin Henderson.

Battle in Seattle Trailer


I first heard about Battle in Seattle while reading an email from The Sierra Club. They are sponsoring a free viewing on Thursday with United Steelworkers and NY Citizens Trade Coalition. Then I saw an interview with Charlize Theron on The Daily Show. Check it out here. After learning about the Q&A session, I immediately purchased tickets.

I was interested to see this movie to learn more about the WTO conference in Seattle. At UCSB I worked as a news director for KCSB, the campus radio station. I remember talking to students about their experience protesting the WTO in 1999. [Check out this interesting article from the Nexus archives written one year after the demonstrations.] However, some time has gone by since then and I was hopeful that this movie would discuss the different sides involved. I also wanted to support Stuart Townsend's movie and hear about Townsend, Theron, and Henderson's experiences while making this film.

Townsend explained that originally he was interested in environmentalism. Then he read the book Take it Personally By Anita Roddick which helped him realize that the environment is so connected to politics, and connected to globalization. He feels this movie is about story-telling that really means something. That people can make a difference. He has spent the last 6 months creating the website because he knew people would ask themselves What Can I Do? when they left the theater. They have partnered with action groups for virgin forests, wild oceans, safe food, fair trade, and clean energy. You can find informational sections regarding these issues on the website.

The film is not scheduled for a wide release. It is currently playing in SF, DC, NY, San Rafael, Minneapolis, and Seattle. Next Wednesday it will start playing in Sacramento, and next Friday in LA, Berkeley, San Jose, Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Pittsburgh. On October it will open in select cities in CA, CO, NC, OH, OR, PA, PN, TX, WI, WA, WN. Click here for the complete list of theaters.

I strongly recommend that you watch this movie if it is playing near where you live. If you do not, request that it come to your city. Rent it when it is released on DVD. If you are a teacher share it with your classroom. And, make sure to visit the site to learn more.

This is a movie based on the events that took place on the streets of Seattle during the WTO Ministerial Conference. It is not a documentary but a story told through fictional characters. Battle in Seattle is a passionate, dramatic, informative movie about empowerment. I hope Americans will be receptive to this film and its message - People before Profits.

Movie watch

One of favorite things to do besides watching movies is researching upcoming movies. Didn't realize I loved movies so much? Here are some fun facts about this obsession:

*I have an extensive collection of movie tickets - starting in '91
*I saw each Lord of the Rings, in the theater, 6+ times
*Watching midnight screenings is my secret passion
*I worked at the Camino Real Cinemas in Santa Barbara for the better part of 5 years

The new James Bond movie will be released this November. Here's a short video with an inside look at Quantum of Solace.

Eric and I are planning a quick getaway to NYC this week. Some items on the agenda are seeing friends, visiting New School, touring The Cloisters, and watching The Bands Visit. This movie is currently playing in NY and LA and, as far as I know, hasn't been scheduled for a wide release yet. Should be interesting!

How do you spell awesome?

Check out Akeelah and the Bee if you haven't already. If you've been looking for a family movie that doesn't make you cringe. This is the perfect movie. It's inspiring, emotional and sweet.

Akeelah learns to dream big, face her fears and grows closer to her family and friends along the way. During the movie they read the following quote for inspirational writer Marianne Williamson.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

So what's next for Laurence Fishburne? He is co-directing the film The Alchemist set to come out in 2009. He also wrote the screenplay and is producing this film based on the Paulo Coelho novel. I can't wait to see this intense treasure-hunting story. Hopefully a trailer will be ready soon...fingers crossed!

New adventures, daring mermaids, cuban treats, and a shooting star

In my absence, I've replaced my old computer, visited Cooperstown, caught a bass in upstate NY, and renewed my love for writing.

My mom, Eric, and I saw Stardust last night. It pretty much had everything you could possibly need in a movie: witches, princesses, magic, pirates, a sexy love triangle, flying, murder, secret kingdoms, princes rivaling for the throne, falling stars, unicorns, families reunited, and beautiful young love. What are you waiting for? Take your beautiful wench/hot captain to see this tonight!

Intermittent cheesiness may provoke nauseousness.

Tomorrow I leave for sunny Islamorada. I've never been so far south. It's going to be a long drive and I'm missing the coolest party this month. But, at least I'll be traveling for work again. I've been wanting this since March.

This week in history: August 26, 1939 First televised Major League Baseball game - Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Dodgers.

I love vanilla shakes

It's been a crazy hectic week. Luckily, I had a wonderful, relaxing, love-filled weekend.

Today I got some movie screening tickets from Park Ave CDs (The one on Virginia, of course) It's for Rescue Dawn with Steve Zahn and Christian Bale. Check out the trailer, it's intense. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully we'll get to the theater in time to get in. I haven't been to a screening in so long so I really have my fingers crossed.



Today I received an email from Ted with the following link: Potter. I promptly replied, "I can't read that!!!!" after skimming the first couple paragraphs. Last part I read said-"Look away." I did! I just couldn't read it! The final Harry Potter book will be out in a few days and I don't want to see any spoilers-whether or not they are true. (Supposedly, this article has actual 100% accurate spoilers).

On Saturday we saw Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucia). It was super interesting, imaginative, sexy, and sweet/disturbing. The line that probably struck me the most was when Lorenzo says "What was the point of being a father if she didn't know?" He was talking about his daughter Luna after he's informed of her birth. He basically visits her and gets to know her while keeping his identity a secret. I suppose there is no reason to call yourself a father if you don't act like one to your child. I think Lorenzo deep down wants Luna to know that he's her father. The truth is though, it's much easier to live your life without acknowledging a child than to grow up without a parent. It's not two sides of the same coin. It's not like seeing lightning but not hearing the thunder. It's like living in darkness on the sun.

HAPPY TUESDAY!

What's better than a four-day work week? A four-day work week with a break in the middle!

Today I read on cnn.com that MIT is offering free online courses. What's the catch, obviously that you can't get credit for them. But that makes sense, right? So pretty much my goal is to read about every class. Starting with Physics #8.952-Particle Physics of the Early Universe :) ha! yeah right. But, seriously there are some excellent courses listed for all you self-learners!

Big news...Yahoo photos is ending ties with their loyal members. But, luckily FLICKR was ready to catch all of us heartbroken photographers. My page is flickr.com/photos/katherinejulia. Cool, cool.

Just saw the awesome movie Frida (2002) with Salma Hayek. Here are some great images I wanted to share.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in 1932

Self-Portrait with Monkey 1938

Tree of Hope 1946
The words "Árbol de la esperanza, mantente firme" appear in the painting (Tree of hope, hold still). This comes from her favorite song Cielito Lindo. Definitely one of the best Mariachi songs ever.

movie date this friday: sicko

Michael Moore's new movie will be in theaters this Friday.

Having lived in Europe and being super close with my grandparents I have some pretty strong opinions regarding our health care industry. Frankly, it sucks. It's frustrating to hear about my family's experiences with doctor's visits, prescriptions and the enormous cost to stay healthy as an elderly person. It pisses me off when my friends don't have health insurance. But, what are they going to do? It's not like we're living in Europe where the government believes that one's health is a priority.

I'm so glad that Michael Moore is taking the American health care industry under the knife. While his other movies have received a lot of attention, I think many Americans feel disconnected with his ideas or agenda. Maybe they think that the topics covered in his movies aren't important. However, I think this movie will really get people talking. Who hasn't gone to an emergency room because of a painful injury? Everybody has needed to see a doctor at one point--but what happens when a doctor's visit just isn't an option? I really believe that this topic crosses the divides between communities, race, class, and political party.

According to The National Coalition on Health Care, the number of uninsured Americans rose 1.3 million between 2004 and 2005 and has increased by almost 7 million people since 2000. That's ridiculous. I've heard so many times that America needs to revise their list of priorities. Can we please start now and move improving the health care industry to the top?

Read a Michel Moore interview with the Seattle Times.
Watch the Sicko trailer below: