Bi/Poly/Other Movie/Books Review and Journal
Archive for September, 2009
Books for Fall
Sep 24th
I realize there was no books for the fall to post so I checked out other sites who had better lists, so I collected and combined twenty, in no particular order books for this blog. If you have bi and/or poly non-fic/fiction to recommend, let me know. Winter is coming…
- Eros: A Journey of Multiple Loves
by Serena Anderlini-D’Orofio
- Bisexual Politics: Theories, Queries, and Visions
by Naomi Tucker
- Bi America: Myths, Truths, and Struggles of an Invisible Community
by William Burleson
- Current Research on Bisexuality (Journal of Bisexuality Monographic Separates)
by Fritz Klein and Ronald Fox - Bi Men: Coming Out Every Which Way
by Fritz Klein, Pete Chvnay and Ron Jackson Suresha
- Polyamory: Roadmaps for the Clueless & Hopeful
by Anthony Ravenscroft
- Bi Lives: Bisexual Women Tell Their Stories
by Kata Orndorff
- Bisexuality and Transgenderism: Intersexions of the Others
by Fritz Klein, Jonathan Alexander, and Karen Yescavage
- The Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe: Quips, Tips, and Lists for Those Who Go Both Ways
by Nicole Kristal and Mike Szymanski
- Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out
by Loraine Hutchins and Lani Kaahumanu
- Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics
by Jennifer Baumgardner
- Bisexuality: The Psychology and Politics of an Invisible Minority
by Beth A. Firestein
- Bisexuality and the Challenge to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty, and Revolution (The Cutting Edge : Lesbian Life and Literature Series)
by Paula Rust
- Women and Bisexuality
by Sue George
- Surface Tension: Love, Sex and Politics Between Lesbians and Straight Women
by Meg Daly
- Bisexuality and the Eroticism of Everyday Life
by Marjorie Garber
- Bisexuality in the United States
by Paula C. Rodriguez Rust
- The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures
by by Dossie Easton
- Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships
by Tristan Taormino
- The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People
by David P. Barash Ph.D. and Judith Eve Lipton
Popularity: 1% [?]
MReview: Shortbus
Sep 22nd
Shortbus 2006 (Unrated Edition)
M/F – M/M – M/M/M – F/F
Synopsis: [IMDB] Numerous New York City-dwellers come to the exclusive club Shortbus to work out problems in their sexual relationships. Rob and Sophia are a happily married couple, except for the fact that she has never experienced sexual climax. This irony follows her to work, because she is a couples counselor who frequently has to deal with the sexual issues other couples have. Two of her patients are Jamie and James, a gay couple who have been monogamous for five years and counting. James wants to bring other men in to the relationship, and his own history with depression may hint at an ulterior motive. Ceth (Pronounced like Seth) may be the perfect addition to their family, but Caleb, a voyeur from across the street, may have his own ideas about that. Sophia visits Severin, a dominatrix with secrets of her own to reveal.
Review: Sorry this is super short but I wrote this long piece a while ago and lost it and I’m not looking to rewrite again, and this is going by memory.
There are explicit sexual situations but seriously, it’s not about sex. Get past the first ten minutes and the sex will become background, seriously. I was amazed that while the sex did advance certain things in the film it was almost invisible to the way the character’s plots interacted with each other.
It is about the sex therapist who never had an orgasm. The actress who plays her is so believable and earnest as her journey interconnects with everyone. It feels like she’s Alice going through the city full of adventures and strange unique people to find home (her self fulfillment). Others teach by her giving advice or a simple shoulder to cry on. We meet the other people and their dynamics: directly knowing her or connection to her. Their stories are just as unique and interesting to watch. All the characters are relatable and likable, even the ones you don’t care for but it is an interesting look at the character’s dealing with others, their own lives and how they love each other. Music soundtrack is a great bonus.
Trailer:
Popularity: 1% [?]
MReview: Ciao
Sep 19th
Ciao
M/M – M&M
Synopsis:
[Fandango] A man dies very unexpectedly and leaves behind two men: Jeff, his best friend and Andrea, an Italian he’s been corresponding with online. Jeff informs Andrea of Mark’s passing; Andrea writes back to express his shock and sympathies. On a whim, they continue their correspondence and a rapport grows between them. They eventually meet, where they extend their e-mail exchanges into more personal and intimate conversations. They talk about their respective countries, their jobs, their families, their lives. Mostly, they talk about Mark. What began as a tragedy that linked two strangers from different ends of the world becomes a deeply realized friendship that may change their lives forever.
Review:
I really enjoyed this movie and considering the 33% rating at Rotten Tomatoes is starting to tell me that any pro or regular joe review still doesn’t give you a clue to what you might like, including this one you are reading right now.
I cried twice, once at the beginning and the end. It was slow paced but I really like that because I got everything they were trying to accomplish with the movie. Jeff’s best friend dies and then he finds out that he really didn’t know parts of Mark’s life at all such as his correspondence with Andrea. You get the sense that he felt, I don’t know “annoyed” that Mark would share intimate details with a online person than with him.
It was like he spent a good amount of time with somebody (become friends in a slightly possessive and territorial way, especially when Jeff had strong feelings for Mark) and then get sideswiped by new details that this “stranger” is telling him about his friend, because he was developing a relationship outside of Jeff. It was like envy or jealousy put together but not because when Andrea shows up and starts talking about Mark, I think Jeff was a real adult about it instead of being bitter but I will admit and give leeway because he was probably still in grief over his friend’s sudden death and Andrea was a last connection to Mark.
Um, too messy of a review, let’s try this again. Even though the story is about Mark’s death, it is really about Jeff. He asked Andrea to come to Dallas to see who this person that could get Mark’s personal attention in the way Jeff in the many years he known Mark that he could never have. The way he discusses the emails and finding out this “online affair” with his sister suggests that part of it was done unconsciously in regards to the invitation to Dallas. Throughout the two days Jeff doesn’t grieve for him until Andrea shows him a video of Mark’s country singing.
Basically, the last ten minutes of the movie is just that, of Jeff dealing with his grief. Even Andrea and Jeff’s making out in bed felt like Mark’s unfinished business. Andrea is the last part of Mark’s life and it seems to give him permission to let go. (a clue: he stops visiting Mark’s condo.) The last part is open ended with Jeff and Andrea and most times I don’t like that but in this case it actually works for me.
I would give it a recommend to add to collection as I don’t see why the pro reviewers gave it such a low mark.
Trailer:
CIAO Trailer from Yen Tan on Vimeo.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Intermission: Bisexual/Polygamous Movies List
Sep 14th
If interested to people in who visit here and I do see people are actually visiting if not commenting. There is a link on top for a list of Bisexual/Polyamory Movies that I put together a while ago and occasionally update if I find movies that possible could be bi or poly in nature.
This was basically a big list of movies that I will eventually, some day get through all of them and make it pretty but I’ve recently added more possible movies and to finally not drive myself insane with such a massive html list, I have broken up the movies from what I have seen, given reviews and linked to its own page while the bigger list is on another where it just has the titles and sometimes no descriptions.
(The new and original list can be found at the top of the page -in the drop down links-.)
I’ll try to get through a chunk of them before the year is over but right now whether the stories treat Bi/Poly people in a good or bad light is unknown to me but at least I will keep adding to the list if I hear of any more and if you are brave, go to me sidebar where it says recommend a movie and do so. You could see from the sidebar the movies that are coming up in the reviews, I am pretty sure Shortbus is next. Maybe.
Popularity: 1% [?]
MTrailer: Ninja Assassin
Sep 13th
Ninja Assassin (2009)
I like action movies, I like violent movies but I don’t like horror or slasher films like “Saw”. I find those movies bad in gratuitous violence without any reasoning behind it. It feels creepy in a bad serial killer way, in “I never want this to be real anywhere in the world” way. How do these movies get a “R” instead of NC-17 rating will continue to baffle me. (Actually it doesn’t baffle me, a little brain power and apply with what’s going on in the -U.S. Health Industry- to the -Ratings Board (MPAA)/U.S. Movie Industry- can get great comparability.) Anyhoo, Ninja Assassin don’t seem to have that creepy evil equality but has the “purposeful violence” that I am looking for, so I’ve posted the trailer here. It is slated for November 2009.
Hey! Is this the same “Rain” that had the dance-off with Steven Colbert! Interest peaked!
Synopsis:
[IDMB] Ninja Assassin follows Raizo (Rain), one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.
In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.
Trailer:
Popularity: 1% [?]
YWYRMovie: She Kills He
Sep 4th
She Kills He (2005)
M/MtF
Synopsis:
The story of an unlikely pair finding love in a most unexpected place. In the gritty backstreets of Miami, both characters are in the midst of overcoming their own adversities while innocently exploring and testing their newfound love.
Movie Short:
More great videos from DowneTV on DowneLink.com, the biggest gay social network
Popularity: 1% [?]
MReview: .45
Sep 2nd
.45 (2006)
M/F – F/F
Synopsis:
[Cinemablend] The movie first introduces us to Kat (Milla Jovovich), who lives in a shoddy New York apartment with her aggressive boyfriend Big Al (Angus Macfadyen). A very dominant character and respected gun dealer, Big Al is convinced he reigns over the entire neighborhood. When Kat decides to get into the gun business herself and starts selling weapons behind Al’s back, his jealousy tosses him into an explosion of rage that leads to a gruesome rape. With the help of a devoted social worker (Aisha Tyler) and her bisexual friend Vic (Sarah Strange), Kat finally finds the necessary courage to engage in a vicious act of revenge that could free her from Al once and for all.
Short Version: A story of how obsession, addiction and abuse leads a young woman (Jovovich) to execute an elaborate plan of revenge.
Review:
I don’t get bored with Milla Jovovich movies, this movie I can watch more than once but twice? That’s where it gets a little muddled. Watching it for the first time (this was after not looking at any movies with bi/poly attachments, so this group including this movie is from the batch I saw prior to vacation.) I was looking for different things for the blog like any bi behaviors and Milla (Kat) does exhibit them (I will say all the females in this movie) so I wondered in what context and it’s in her relationships; the bastard of a boyfriend, her female best friend who lust after her, the boyfriend’s friend and his rival who lust after her and the social worker who gets closer to her than the others. (In all these relationships she responds to all, some more strongly than others for her ends.)
On the second run I just watched and it plays as a simple deception movie. Once you figure out where the characters stand with main character Kat (Jovovich). She is a woman desperate to leave an abusive relationship but doesn’t know how. Or does she? Because as the story progress you already picked up one the facts is that she “relying on the kindness of strangers” or should I say “relying on the kindness of friends” a little to well. Almost manipulatively well….
Anyway, I stayed until the end even when I figured out the twist and all her deceptions fell into place there really was only two people who felt betrayed by her; one who deserved it and one who didn’t. All in all, rent if you can find it.
Trailer:
Popularity: 1% [?]
