Review of The Vampire Diaries Television Series 2009

And what, monks, is Right Action? Refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct. This is called Right Action.
- The Buddha

This review is based on the first three shows of the season.

Although it is difficult to come up with new angles on vampire mythology, this series doesn’t even try. It is unfair to compare it to the groundbreaking movies like Blade, Interview with a Vampire, and so on, it is fair to compare it to other vampire television series such as Forever Knight (1989-1996), Buffy (1997-2003), and Angel (1999-2004). In doing so, The Vampire Diaries comes up short on intelligent writing, depth of character, innovation, wit, complexity of plot, and surprise but heavy on clichés, overt sexual flirtation, and jump-out-at-you moments. Diaries is a third-rate horror/melodrama.

My biggest objection to this series is that it takes place in a high school when it should at least be a college. Casual rampant sex, pervasive alcohol consumption, violence, and drug abuse are constantly in the forefront. There is very little ethical behaviour and most of that is trite and formulaic. This is not the kind of show I would want my teenager to watch steadily. Studies have shown that girls who watch television shows regularly with sexually active young people have twice the rate of teenage pregnancy.

In the first three episodes, I saw no redeeming value in this series. It seems an unimaginative attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Twilight Series.

Movie Review of 3,000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

3,000 Miles to Graceland (2001)


Making their deeds the field for their egos, using the working of discrimination of the mind as seed, beclouding the mind by ignorance, fertilizing it with the rain of craving desires, irrigating it by the wilfulness of egotism, they add the conception of evil, and carry this incarnation of delusion about with them.
- The Buddha

Kurt Russell plays Michael Zane the hero/robber and Kevin Costner plays Murphy the villain/robber, part of a gang that robs a casino during Elvis week. Murphy believes he is the actual illegitimate son of The King.

At one point Murphy explains to the child that although he is a really bad guy, Zane is also a bad guy. At one point Zane says, “Guys like me die caught.” It seems the writers forgot this. Courtney Cox plays the type of mother who makes most women cringe.

This movie is a giant love affair with guns and bad guys with a little Elvis on the side. Slow motion murder backed by heavy music takes up much of the story, what little story there is. We are expected to like the hero(?) because he goes back to save a child. That is supposed to make us overlook his contribution to the slaughters.

I think the continuous hail of bullets is a distraction for the boredom in between. The only bright spot is during the end credits when Kurt Russell lip syncs to an Elvin song.

This kind of movie has no redeeming value and fills the mind with violent callous images. There is no karmic justice. Not at all suitable for family viewing.

Review of the Movie Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Review of the Movie Kung Fu Panda

Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, he who conquers his own self, is the greatest of all conquerers.Self-conquest is, indeed, far greater than the conquest of all other folks. Dhammapada v. 103, 104

Although there are many moments in this movie where meaningful dialogue occurs, any wisdom gained by these is overshadowed by the continual fight scenes. Although the location is “The Valley of Peace” most time and energy is spent perfecting warrior skills and incarcerating (horribly) the potential threat to this “peace.”

When Po, the overweight bungling Panda, eventually proves himself and is given the scroll of power to read, he discovers that it is blank. More to the point, it reflects the person who looks into it. Just as the noodle broth has no secret ingredient, so too the scroll has no secret power. The message is that we carry our own power within and need to fulfill our own potential without looking for some magical outside answer. However, this worthy message is overshadowed by other negative messages.

Tai Lung frees himself from an inhumane prison to confront his former teacher and surrogate father, Shifu. He says, “All I ever did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how proud you are Shifu! Tell me. Tell me!” Is this not a cry of suffering? Tai Lung was abandoned by his birth father as an infant, then again as an adult/student by his adoptive father/master.

Shifu replies, “I have always been proud of you. From the first moment I've been proud of you. And it was my pride that blinded me. I loved you too much to see what you were becoming, what I turned you into. I'm... I'm sorry.” If he was sorry, why did he abandon Tai Lung in prison? Why did he not visit and concentrate on undoing the damage? He cast him aside like a failed project.

Tai Lung pauses, shocked, but the inevitable battle of student against master ensues. When Tai Lung eventually obtains the scroll and learns it is blank, he is furious to discover he spend twenty years in prison for nothing.

Po, the Panda, defeats him and peace is restored to the valley. However, the cruelty done to Tai Lund is never addressed. Although the movie is peppered with Buddhist sayings such as “There is a saying, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift.”it is deeply lacking in either wisdom or compassion.

There are many funny parts, some clever witticisms, and numerous dramatic fight scenes, but underneath the movie sends a message of insensitivity and disconnectedness and that violence, masquerading as Kung Fu, can solve the problems of pride, loneliness, and hatred.

Movie Review of A History of Violence (2005)

Movie Review A History of Violence

Let him no creatures kill and none incite to kill, nor sanction others taking life, but put by violence for all that lives.
- The Buddha,Sayings of the Buddha, William Wray

The movie begins with two opposite groups, a pair of cold-hearted killers and a loving family of four. While it seems obvious they will meet and the family will be damaged in some way, David Cronenberg never fails to surprise.

Viggo Mortensen, as Tom Stall, is a convincing protagonist. Maria Bello is perfect as his wife Edie. Ashton Holmes, as their son Jack, brings the question of violence into a different arena. Ed Harris makes a terrific mobster but William Hurt seems formulaic.

The movie raises several questions: When is it acceptable to use violence to solve a problem? Do we ever really know what anyone is capable of? Can a person change? Is it possible to escape the karma of past violence? Can love forgive grand lies and deception?

No Country for Old Men

Movie Review No Country for Old Men

Movie Score = B-

Recommended Age = 18 and up

From ignorance and greed there spring impure desires for things that are, in fact, unobtainable, but for which men restlessly and blindly search.
-The Buddha

It is interesting that “A History of Violence” was tagged as overly violent when this movie is much more so. I also found the story line of Cronenberg’s movie much more engaging and straightforward.

Javier Bardem plays the cold-blooded killer with perfect understated creepiness. Tommy Lee Jones is faultless as the aging sheriff. Josh Brolin plays the stubborn overly confidence Llewellyn Moss beautifully. The characterization is excellent. I found the plot like a shot gun blast, too much happening and too gory.

I have to disagree with the Academy and most of the critics on this one.