Hoop Dreams

I've been doing a lot of pondering lately. I will most definitely post up my thoughts after finals are over, this Wednesday.

Instead of studying though, I've been watching movies. I watched After Life, a potentially good movie that ended up being m-e-h meh. Rewatched Blade Runner. Great movie, I read somebody saying it's like "a scifi novel come to life," which is 100% on point. The whole vibe of it is fucking nuts. The way it's shot it amazing. Too bad the dialogue wasn't too great.

And now...Hoop Dreams

I've been meaning to watch this for a while. Finally thought of it, right when the new DVD came out. I spent 3 hours watching this today. It's a great documentary - I didn't feel bored or want to fast forward a single moment in the movie. It's probably because I love basketball so much, but this is a great look into HS basketball, inner-city basketball and the kids that grow up in it. This follows two kids, Arthur Agee and William Gates, going through the struggles of trying to make it to college and the NBA. Obviously neither made it, but it's pretty stunning to see how many kids don't make it, and how the system really disillusions them. It offered me a look into another perspective, since I'm just a suburban Asian kid growing up in a system that wanted me to succeed academically. Seeing this movie almost made me identify with the two kids, even though I'm not black and I didn't grow up in the inner-city. I think a lot of the same stereotypical struggles and disillusionmeent and letdowns these kids go through are similar to what I've gone through. The disappointments they've gone through are similar to the things I've experienced here in Berkeley, and in high school.

In the end, I'd say definitely go out and watch this movie. Keep an open mind, and try not to get caught up thinking that "These are some regular black kids just playing ball, people talk about this all the time." This was reality tv before that shit became popular, and it's more about the basic, universal human struggles and spirit.




Hoosiers

Fucking disappointing this movie was. It was an alrite movie, but man...this is a fucking WHITE PERSON'S MOVIE. PERIOD. It's too Hollywood, a little too fake with a grip of plot holes. Gene Hackman was cool, but I think my opinion of him has been lowered. Royal Tenenbaums was excellent with him in it, but man. MAN. I'm sorry, I just don't like this movie.

It was not bad, but not "the greatest sports movie ever." The white kids were ugly as hell in it too, and I couldn't tell any of them apart, other than the short dude and the skinny ugly guy. Fucking whack.

Actually this sounds like I really hated this movie, but I'm just mad I bought this damned DVD. I'm selling this shit back.