A Brief Commentary on Recent Media
By Alex Ness
September 30, 2025
INTRO
I have been had by constant health issues, loss of memory, and more appointments at Drs and Dentists. My ability to write is deeply slowed and unproductive. I am not asking for forgiveness, my issues aren't from sloth or lack of imagination. Also, my son's cat Isabella climb on one of my book shelves and meowed loudly for me to see her brave act. Well, it requires a full time job to watch over her, I am not saying she is evil or bad. She is simply so curious and desirous of recognition she can't help it. It is honestly a better problem to have than those people I've encountered in my travels. People with almost no layers of clothing, people using a single crutch to assist them in their path. And far worse.
FILM
The movies I am about to write about involve a number of points to
consider. Those reasons are not solely about quality or lacking of. It is due
to how it had an impact upon me then, or how it works now, as a much older human. The first film shown, The Missiles of October,
was a television movie, but that had not been a demerit. The acting,
the scenes, and the fast pace of the story all worked well together. And
gave me a global social-political narrative that felt without bias. It
showed what could happen with lesser leaders and if we weren't careful.
There was very little cheese, which I think elevated it to a level that
adults long past the event my be refreshed in memory, and the younger
audience could have a level entertainment to go with the frightening
aspect, that this isn't a horror film, it actually came close to
happening.
The next film, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea took aim at a theme done so well with On The Beach
but with a lighter tone, it felt less serious. The ship, the Seaview
was a world treasure, allowing its crew to be used in rescue, repair,
repeal enemies as the representative to the world (UN) community. It was
fun with just ok effects. The world is facing a natural event, and only
a ship that can hide well, rise to the surface and launch missiles can
hope to stop the storm ahead. There is some cheese in this film,
and the adversary is occasionally a bit like a hippie with a hair cut
who has some beliefs that make it less and adventure and feel more like comedic fiction or sarcastic.
The Defector was a remarkable movie in that
it was made with a very low budget, and that it was made with a quiet
nature about it, managed to be intriguing despite having such a slow
pace, and quiet ongoing background. The project was the work of many
creative talents, but two died in less than or just after the release.
Raoul Lévy, director, who committed suicide near the opening date, and
Montgomery Clift, actor, who became drug addicted after a life
shattering car crash. The movie about blackmail, information theft, and
ultimately the control of intellectual properties is an engaging work.
Clift said it couldn't have been made, on his part of the bargain
without the help of Roddy McDowall. Compared to other works about
similar subjects, it doesn't really hold up, but I enjoyed it, as both
Clift and McDowall had first rate acting skills.
ICE STATION ZEBRA A
disturbing message is sent to a submarine captain, who is visiting
different bars but it is apparent that he isn't hitting the booze, as he
has been given special information and he is not showing the effects of
inebriants. And the captain, played by Rock Hudson has a fine
performance, as a leader who leads by rapport rather than force,
discipline, or rules. The cast is rather wonderful, and even Ernest
Borgnine, who does fit on my top 10 actors list, who plays a Russian
defector who behaves oddly for a non spy, plays their roles perfectly. I
noticed, as would most people of the present, almost the entirety of
male gender within the crews. Now, to change it for the modern audience
would be foolish, so I am not condemning the situation, just noticing
it. During the entirety of the film while the pace is rather slow, it
works to make the crank up the tension and pace when it is time. And by
then, you can feel the unease in all the crew. It was truly a fun and
high quality film.
GORKY PARK
The film and book
aren't exactly alike, but both are worth viewing and or viewing. Arkady
Renko is a detective in the Soviet Union, and author Martin Cruz Smith
is a highly talented writer. His feel for the various tiers of society,
from those with power, to those with none, peels back the skin for the
viewers/readers to see. Power means wealth, wealth means luxury items,
and if you can sell forbidden products due to your knowledge secrets
about the powerful, you might think there are more things to do, than
steal, or buy, such as relics, weapons forbidden from the people, and
more. Perhaps a wealthy Russian likes to have young women or young men,
perhaps he uses them for other things too. When his underlings find
three dead bodies of women, with removed faces, cut off hands, to hide
the identities, and perhaps, rather than a random killer or snuff film
fan, you have serial killer. In fact, when the path reveals a connection
to Mink sales and trafficking, Arkady isn't certain he'll survive,
because the changing traits from pervert to international serial killer,
that is going from a deputy of a sheriff in a small county, to the FBI
arresting and indicting an ambassador to a country. A great film I
thought.
Sussan Deyhim
With all the music in the Western world, there is a format, lyrics,
rhythm. With Sussan Deyhim she performs all that in song. She evokes a
culture, and mindset, a cultural force, that will never be lost.
Diana Damrau From
the first note of her operatic performance, whichever you happen to
view, you hear a voice with control and power, never being trapped by
the lyrics written many hundreds of years passed, nor made without
purpose by the antiquity of the sound.
Edith Piaf Called
the voice of France, Edith Piaf has a solid place in that challenge.
While others have been suggested as being the "voice of France" they all
have legitimacy. She was neither powerful looking, nor was she blessed
with great physical presence. She was beneath 5 feet tall, and her life
had worn upon her. But find out the story behind each of her songs, be
prepared to shout Vive la France
Kazha is a fantastic band from Japan. From
the outside it appears to be a hard or heavy rock, but the lead singer
is not that. Therefore this work is a delicate mix, of soft and
evocative voice and a much harder musical accompaniment.
Kohachiro Miyata - Shakuhachi The Japanese flute is ancient, taking form in the era of the 7th-8th century C.E. The collection by Kohachiro Miyata is reminiscent of a Zen garden or a soft and quiet place of reflection.
Demon
Kogure is a funny character, witty and often over the top, and has been lead singer of the band
Seikima-II. He also performed solo. Like the band Kiss, his make up is
never off in public, and few have seen his face. His voice is powerful,
and he sings covers well. His work is well known in Japan, and appreciated for knowledge in many areas. Destinyland is by far his most recognized song. The band Seikima-II used the theme of mythic or religious power and all the members were called a demon or holder of power. Not Western, they use the concept as conflict between beings of power.
LASTLY
If you like how I write and what I write about,
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