Alive in Joburg (2006)

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Felix Vasquez

The success story behind “Alive in Joburg” is one of the many interesting successes of the indie culture. Director Neill Blomkamp created this short mock documentary film in 2005, gained a cult status, was later expanded into a feature length film becoming “District 9,” gained worldwide praise from critics and genre fans, won many awards and eventually became a contender for best picture in the Oscars. It’s an astounding tale of a humble indie production turning in to a rather fantastic masterpiece.

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Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing (2006)

Posted on February 19, 2007 by Felix Vasquez

I hate country music. In all of its forms. I think it’s a pro-conservative, right wing, antiquated form of music best suited for run down bars, filled with whiny, bitching, moaning, chaw chewing, cow poking “stars” who have no idea what good writing is (“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” is proof positive), and is a genre so disgusted with itself it’s lost touch with its roots and instead has turned into another form of adult contemporary pop. That being said I like the Dixie Chicks. Not because of their music, granted, they have great voices, but because one day in a concert, they decided to exercise their freedom of speech and tell their fans what they thought of our government. And the fans, the red state hicks they are, hated that, and turned on them.

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This Film is Not Yet Rated: Unrated (2006)

Posted on January 17, 2007 by Felix Vasquez

Pussy, prick, cock, threesome, orgasm, cumming, doggy style, sixty-nine, orgy, jerk off, gang bang, cunt, cunnilingus, glory hole. If any of these words made you cringe, you’ve proven the basic point of “This Film is Not Yet Rated.” Why is America so afraid of sex? Why does sex frighten us? Why does liking certain sexual acts make us flee in terror? What about sex makes us afraid that it will shake our foundation? America is one of the few countries in the world so adamant about concealing sexual acts, and sexual themes are what sink films into NC-17 ratings. And most of these films with the NC-17’s are masterpieces; masterpieces that many people haven’t seen, like “The Dreamers” and “The Cooler.” And, that’s a damn shame.

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WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (2004)

Posted on September 17, 2005 by Felix Vasquez

“WMD” is a shocking, sometimes much too disturbing account of the biggest crime that went completely unnoticed, and will continue to go unpunished. This is not a study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, but what this does probe in to is the utter destruction and obliteration of the American journalistic sentiment. Growing up, I was taught that journalists are the people who keep those in power, in line, and catch them in their misdeeds and wrong doings to better serve the public and teach them that we are being looked out for, so that those in power do not abuse what they’ve been given. People like Woodward and Bernstein who helped unravel the Watergate scandal and the legendary Edward R. Murrow who gave the art of journalism the reputation that it was a dynasty of honesty, and truth, and seeking to help those who don’t have a voice. What documentarian Danny Schecter does is give the audience a message we’ll never be given.

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