— by BEV QUESTAD — I took a year-long course in moral philosophy back in 1969-1970 at the American University of Beirut. Grading was based on each student’s individual growth in moral development as demonstrated by a series of interviews and essays regarding values. Our final essay top[...]
Archive for July, 2022
Review: Ithaka: A Fight to Free Julian Assange
— by WILLIAM STERR — The island of Ithaka symbolizes home: the end of the journey, the goal of the mythic trek. As such, it is taken from Homer’s “Odyssey.” The film “Ithaka: A Fight to Free Julian Assange” begins with the words of Nils Melzer, UN Rapporteur on Torture: “Tort[...]
Review: Vedette
— by BEV QUESTAD — There is much to learn about milk cows and their herd hierarchy. There is also much to learn about the similar ways we treat animals and each other. But, most dramatically, there is much to learn about Vedette, a queen cow with an instinct for battle. High in the Swiss[...]
Review: Endangered
— by WILLIAM STERR — Allison Meyers (Lizzie Zerebko – “For the People”) is a frustrated woman. She is an architect who is without a job, and whose job search has so far resulted in nothing. She is also a person who, in voice-over, methodically describes her philosophy of develo[...]
Review: Orders from Above
— by WILLIAM STERR — On Jan. 20, 1942, a conference was organized in the German city of Wannsee, Germany. It was hosted by Reinhard Heydrick, and dealt with the “total solution of the Jewish question” in all territories under German control at that time. In preparation for th[...]
Review: How to Please a Woman
— by WILLIAM STERR — This amusing tale from Australia begins with a scene of women, six or seven, swimming through clear ocean waters toward the shore. They are members of a swim club and, later in the locker room we get a chance to overhear their friendly banter. One of them, Gina (Sall[...]
Review: Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel
— by WILLIAM STERR — In 1883, work began on a new building in the Chelsea Neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Two years later, it was completed and, at the time, it was 12 stories, which made it the tallest building in the city. It was in the heart of the city’s theater district,[...]
Review: Hallelujah
— by BEV QUESTAD — “Hallelujah” opens with Leonard Cohen, in signature black trilby, dark gray shirt and black trousers, singing “Hallelujah” for the last time. It is December 21, 2013. At one point he is on his knees, his deep voice reverberating in the charismatic verses and ch[...]
Review: Witch House
— by WILLIAM STERR — Howard Philips Lovecraft was an American writer, active during the first half of the last century. His short stories and novellas are credited with establishing horror as a legitimate literary genre (although the reviewers of his time would certainly disagree). He wa[...]
Review: Mad God
— by WILLIAM STERR — Do you remember the walking battle machines in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”? How about the dragon in “Dragonslayer”? Or the multitude of dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park”? If you enjoyed them, and so many other marvels, both stop action and CGI, you ca[...]