Avatar 3D

There are certain movies that set the precedence and raise the bar for movie making.  Avatar has established itself as one of those movies and is a milestone in the evolvement of movies and entertainment today.  James Cameron's last achievement was the Titanic and he has added another movie to his crown of accomplishments.  Did I like the movie, you think? Absolutely!

This is the type of movie that has to be seen not only on the big screen, but it has to be seen in 3D.  Yes, one could say the technology and special effects made the movie, but many movies can still fall flat on their faces if it doesn't deliver beyond that.  It has to be a story that connects to the hearts and minds of the audience.  What do I mean by deliver?  My experience is that it transported me to another world far beyond my wildest imagination.  The movie took me to an amazingly beautiful world that filled me with childlike wonder with the grandeur and beauty of Pandora.  The scenes of the Navi taming, bonding and flying on a Direhorse, climbing up vines to floating mountains and the horror of seeing the central spiritual tree fall were so memorable.   James Cameron, the genius behind it all, shared his vision with millions of enthusiastic viewers around the world.  I'm sure others who have experienced the scenic beauty of Pandora just jump-started ideas in their own minds.

Some would say that the plot was too black and white of how corporations in the name of capitalism can devastate the local natives due to greed.  It is funny that the mineral the corporation is after is called "unobtanium".  But I got something else out of it.  The natives loved the good and bad of the nature around them and felt one with the plants, animals and other natives in their world.  We are all somehow connected with one another and what we do can impact those around us.

Does this turn me into a member of a tree hugging activist organization or a member of PETA?  Not exactly, but I will appreciate the gift of life God has given all of us and I will do whatever I can to respect that gift.

Kudos to Cameron's genius and I am looking forward to buying the DVD and seeing the sequel.

Mary Poppins

We weren't exactly looking forward to this musical.  Ho hum.  How good can a musical play be compared to the movie with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke that has become an American classic?  There were children all over the place and we hoped they didn't detract from the performance.  It was so cute because the theatre sold booster seats for children so that they could see the stage better and not sit so low into the seats.  A mother and her daughter, about 9 or 10 years old sat next to us.  The mother commented that her daughter was looking forward to the play because she has learned most of the songs at her school.

Were we ever surprised with the performance.  Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee who played Mary Poppins and Bert respectively did outstanding jobs.  The costumes, singing and dancing were absolutely outstanding.

There was one scene when Gavin Lee had ropes attached to a brace around his waist.  I wondered what he was going to do.  The next thing we knew, he started walking up the side of the stage, then at the top he was upside down.  He continued walking across the top, then did a couple of jigs, then continued walking down the other side of the stage.  They had to have had the ropes cinched just right so that he could dance the jigs while still upside down.  Otherwise, if he lost balance or footing, he could have been hanging from those ropes above the stage, looking rather foolish.

Overall, it was enjoyable and magical.  I found myself with the rest of the children of the audience,  enraptured with the sights and sounds of the musical that was a surprise treat.

Palestine, New Mexico

This play is a dark comedy about an Indian soldier Private Birdsong from Palestine, New Mexico who dies in combat while stationed in Iraq.  His female  commanding officer, Captain Siler, has ghosts that haunt her about his death.  So the play starts with her trying to see Birdsong's father, Chief Birdsong, to deliver a letter from his son that was written before his death.  She doesn't know what is in it and most of the play deals with her trying to find out what really happened in Iraq and the secrets the tribe hide from even themselves.

It is interesting the way the desert in New Mexico transposes to the desert in Iraq.  The water tower turns into a tower of a Muslim Mosque.  The comedy relief comes from the tribe in New Mexico that struggles to maintain their Indian heritage in today's world.  There is a research professor who claims to have 1/16th Indian blood in him so that he can live on the reservation for his study.  He rides a bicycle around the reservation and when he dismounts his bike, he says, "Whoa Trigger!"

The secret is that years ago during the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were brought to the New World as slaves and they soon settled in the area marrying into the local native tribes.  So over the years it was discovered that the Indians have Jewish heritage which may conflict with the Christian subsidies for the reservations.

There were many empty seats in the theatre just before the play started, so we thought we were going to see a lemon.  But far from it.  We had a good time and many of the audience members besides us, enjoyed the show immensely.

The Barber of Seville

This opera is a comedy or an opera buffa. I've found this style to be my favorite. It is also considered one of the top 10 or 20 operas performed over the years around the world.  Many of the arias are found in mainstay music such as in commercials or cartoons, very familiar to many.

It is a fairly simple story line and to me, a story aligned with Sweeney Todd in a wierd sort of way.  Figaro is the Barber of Seville and he tries to help the Count Almaviva win the hand of Rosina.  She is a ward of Doctor Bartolo who wants to keep her for himself so that he can marry her and obtain her dowry.  But all prevails, no one dies and everyone is happy at the end.

In one scene, Figaro was dancing a little jig of joy, then he ends it in a Michael Jackson step with a crotch grabbing motion added to it.  Everyone just burst out laughing, it was so hilarious.  It is interesting that throughout most of the two acts, the costumes and scenery are in various shades of black and white.  In the final part of the 2nd act, color, vibrant color begins to take over the stage and it is simply beautiful as we witness the happy ending in vivid color.

This is a definite must see opera especially if it is the first opera to be experienced to turn them into opera buffs.  It is funny, arias provide a hit a minute, one after another and the set design provides a treat for the eyes.  Enjoyable entertainment for all.