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Just a Taste – HUNGER GAMES, AMERICAN REUNION, CABIN IN THE WOODS
Here’s my quick roundup from last Saturday’s triple feature: The Hunger Games is still riding high at the box office. It was very wise of Suzanne Collins to write a book that brings together the best of Reality TV – the savagery of Survivor, the mentoring of The Voice, the back biting of The Apprentice and the pageantry of Dancing with the Stars. Food in Film: most of the Districts are starving in this Dystopian future, willing to eat crusts of bread used for feeding pigs. However, once chosen, the Tributes are offered ample displays of food both savory and sweet. Feasting on banquet after banquet, leading up to game…
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Commentary – Bully
Philadelphia Film Society (click to read PFS member’s comments on this film) hosted a preview screening of Bully, formerly called The Bully Project. Which actually was screened in October during the 20th Philadelphia Film Festival, but I, and many others didn’t pay it much attention. It deserves attention. Director/Writer/Producer/Cinematographer Lee Hirsch who was bullied throughout his childhood, wanted to make a film that would give voice to kids who deal with this torment on a daily basis. His camera follows the lives of 3 kids currently being tortured: verbally, mentally, physically, but oddly, only a mention is made of cyber bullying, which is so prevalent today. Hirsch also interviews two…
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Philly Dining Tid”bite”- Charles Plaza
Friday night had dinner in Chinatown with friends who chose Charles Plaza as our Asian culinary destination. Not much in terms of decor, but the servers and owner – very attentive. The restaurant specializes in vegetarian Chinese cuisine and the dishes are prepared without MSG or heavy sauces. For instance the sesame noodles have just a light coating. Of course, personally, I like a heavy, sticky, fattening peanut butter Thai sauce, but it’s nice to now and again enjoy something without the guilt. Steamed Chicken Dumplings: Good density and flavor – 3 Tines. Fish of the day: Never has Tilapia been so satisfying! Crunchy, meaty and smothered in garlic sauce…
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Commentary – THE BALLAD OF GENESIS AND LADY JAYE
Have you ever heard the term “Pandrogyny”? Neither had I until I saw the documentary film The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye. Filmmaker Marie Losier documents this unusual love affair between an underground, industrial music front man/woman – Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and his/her better half – Lady Jaye. The two meet through a mutual dominatrix acquaintance and fall madly in love. So in love that Genesis and Lady Jaye decide rather than having a child (of which Genesis has two from a previous relationship) they would reform themselves into each other and therefore, symbolically, create one new person = Pandrogyny. The idea sounds like sick, obsessive love, yet strangely…
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Philly Dining – HAWTHORNES CAFE
Hawthornes Cafe (738 11th Street) describes themselves as a beer boutique and gourmet eatery. So far, I’ve only been twice for brunch. Although, I did order a Duvel Belgian Ale my last visit, and found it to be far too bitter for a morning libation. The restaurant is owned by Chris Fetfatzes, whose family runs Bella Vista Beer Distributors (755 S. 11th St.) So the ample selection of beers and ability to fill up your growlers seems to be a large selling point, but the waiting list for brunch attests to an appealing menu and good food. Rating System: * Excellent – 4 Tines / * Great – 3 Tines…
