Cinemagoer: "The Pianist"

The Pianist (2002)



This powerful story is told through the eyes of one man. Wladislaw Szpielman (played by Adrien Brody) a Jewish Pianist living in Warsaw during the outbreak of World War II. The account that follows in them movie is an extremely moving portrait who loses everything, he witnesses his family being taken away, and many of the atrocities which were done to the Jewish People in WWII.
What I found to be masterfully done throughout the movie was the way in which themes and certain shots were shown in the film. At times it had a feeling of the Hitchcock movie "Rear Window," in that everything the viewer sees is through the eyes of the main character. In essence, we as the audience become Szpielman, or at least have a strong sympathy towards his character.
Throughout the film Szpielman doesn't speak much as we see him struggle to survive in the rubble of the town. However it is in this silence that his true acting finesse shines through. In his facial expressions, especially in his eyes; we as the audience feel a sense of the pain and emptiness which he carries with him throughout the movie.
This was one of the more moving movies I have seen. The score is top notch and fits beautifully with the emotions being portrayed. In the end, it's his gift of music which saves his life. In probably the most emotional scene of the movie. All in all I believe that it's a movie which everyone should watch.

I'd give it a solid two thumbs up.

"Like"

What is it to like something? Is it a desire within a person? Or is it simply a thing to click on Facebook. I vote for the latter however. After all, how difficult is it simply to press down on a mouse button to have the cursor place a little "thumbs up" beside the post. It takes all of what? one second or less. And we are to think that in clicking the 'like' button, that we are somehow adding to the quality of the poster's life simply because we liked it. But what does a 'Like' mean?
That is the underlying question on Facebook. Is it simply just to show support of something? Or simply that you find it interesting? Couldn't you do the same thing in a comment?
People are also perturbed by the lack of a dislike button on Facebook. Why should that be? In comments one could like or dislike the post. Why have we boiled down the enourmous capacity of the English language to communicate into one button exhibiting a "greater-than-neutral" affinity for something.
Becoming a fan of someting makes sense however, with the Facebook pages.  But did you notice that once you are a fan of a page that your update of fan-dage can now be liked? So which truly are you? Do you support it a lot? (i.e. Fan) or do you like the page that you are a fan of? I think that it is understood that if you're a fan of something that you in turn "Like" it.  The 'Liking' of comments within comments which are in posts ought to create a Facebook Parodox, causing the site to form an event horizon, forming a black hole in order to heal the disturbance.
The ambiguity of the "Like Button"is of note. Peple use the button in different ways. To denote interest in a post, to say that they've read a post, or even just to endorse a post which made them smile. I've even seen it used as a way of saying thank you. But I digress. We ought to reconsider our usage of the Like Button. Lest we all turn Facebook into one giant network of Valley Girls. Do you Like it?

Cold Storm

Ashen sky darker still

clouds gather behind the mill.

Trees begin to shiver,

frost crusts on the river

Gossamer.

Sheathed in Snow.

Quiver,

as the winter winds blow.

Branches bending under frost,

bowing to this icy wind.

Leaves circulate as if tossed,

waiting until spring to mend.

Barren trees sit and wait,

until the winter ends of late.

When emerald will clothe every bower,

and the trees again do flower.

Chaperon of Winter

Tendrils of azure hair,
ice splintering, stretching wings.
Frozen in time, now awakening
from the prison of ice now freeing.
Tears of ice, the first tears cried
like those of the procession when she died.
Awakening as a girl, a woman, a maiden
stretching her wings as a raven.
Rising to the frozen sky
she will keep it winter, all will cry.

The Phoenix

Phoenix bird, burning bright,
stretching wings of brilliant light.

Watching your flame I often wonder
why you fly with peals of thunder.

Majestically your feathers glow,
but no man can know,

what first lit your flame,
heated feather glow the same.

As men seek to pluck them out,
you don't cry, but shout.

How can a bird, noble and true,
after death be always new?

Loving itself until the end,
about which many poets penned.

The cycle of death, and life
you are both husband and wife.

Heroes try and cut you down,
depriving you of your rightful crown.

For some time they did succeed,
causing your wings to break and bleed.

If you reignite yourself,
through burning, back to health.

Scorching your wings of brilliant red,
lifting again your majestic head.

Flames at dusk fill the sky,
wise men look up and cry.

The protector of those who wander at night,
always at dusk takes comforting flight.

For travelers lost he lights the way
so they wander in light like day.

Keeper of the eternal fire,
fly ever on, and do not tire.

When oppressed by winter's hand,
it does not change his eternal plan.

Majestic scarlet, echos of blood
wings unleashing the winds of flood.

Rippling muscles shine in the light,
as you take your victory flight.

Enemies below strewn, and slain.
Layers of death on the battle plain.

Aftermath, majestic and true,
your victory flight, flew.

Trailing behind are embers,
in the night the flame glitters.

For if the Phoenix does not live,
what love to earth can he give.

Smaug

Fire rakes the skies
from the dragon's maw.
On wings of death he flies
no one knows his flaw.

Armored above and below
he flies with vengeance hot.
The weakness a small bird knows,
but know this, the dragon does not.

An arrow flew, straight and true
embedding to its black hilt.
The great wyrm this arrow slew,
the balance of power did tilt.

Flight of the Phoenix

Fly
phoenix
away to
skyward glory,
consuming fire
flying across the sky.
Followed by dying embers
consume again to be reborn
another morn you will live to see
as the smoky death which brings life to thee.