TALES FROM NETFLIX WATCH INSTANTLY I: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

I've been putting off this blog wayyyyy too much. I cant believe how long it's been since I made an entry. I've decided to be more diligent about this blog, no matter how unpopular it is.

It's a new day, FUCKERS!

I've wanted to start a new section of the blog. It is inspired by Netflix's sudden decision to separate the streaming and physical renting of DVD/Blu-Rays. I want to celebrate the best and even strangest of what the limited selection of streaming films have to offer. I have not quite figured out how to make a graphic for the logo....so I'm just calling it TALES FROM NETFLIX WATCH INSTANTLY! Makes it sound all ominous and forbidden, doesn't it?

When I saw that this first selection of TALES FROM NETFLIX WATCH INSTANTLY had been licensed for streaming, I literally jumped for joy! I really wanted y first selection to be an Asian film since they never get as much recognition as they deserve. This film has become one of my favorite Palme D'Or winners in recent memory. Tragically, it has become one of the most underseen and perplexing films of the last few years. I am of course referring to Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.  This film is something I feel is what something as cheesy and potentially dangerous to the movie industry as Netflix streaming is made for: quality and acclaimed foreign films that not many would be giving a chance to otherwise.Not just lam horror films from the 80s that never got a DVD release. I had already seen the film on the internet earlier this year sans sub-titles (bootleg, baby!). It saddens me to report that this film actually was given the Palme D'Or by Tim Burton over two years ago...yes...TWO YEARS AGO. It did not get the North American release it deserved. I am guessing this might be b/c it is an Asian film that has nothing to do with action scenes and all to do with ideas and concepts. That seems to spell doom in the marketplace today.I don't know why it took so long to get to Blu-Ray/DVD and, of course, streaming, but here it finally is in all of its glory. Luckily, it has been shown at esteemed art houses like The New Beverly in LA and The Loft in Tucson at the first annual Lost Film Festival to make up for it (sort of).

Not many know that Uncle Boonmee actually started as a multimedia art installation. Like Matthew Barney's films, this film seems to exist to enhance and expand the concepts introduced in the exhibit such as reincarnation, family duty, country vs. city lifestyles, traditional vs. modern society, and the dehumanization of society by television. I feel that's a lot in a film where stories that features a spirit manifesting itself as a sort of Bigfoot creature, ancient princess who agrees to have underwater oral sex from a talking catfish, and silhouettes with red eyes represent humanity at its most spiritualistic and harmonious. Anyone who has seen Tropical Malady already kind of knows what they are getting involved in.

I say, stream it and give this one a chance. I have heard from many that they found it boring and too cerebral, and I felt some of those claims were valid (I felt like I must have developed ADD from all of the films I've seen over the years since my attention kept waning while watching it for the first time). However, if you succumb to the film's slow rhythms, culturally specific references, stunning imagery, ambiguous ending, and matter of fact surrealism, you will discover a treasure of world cinema that will be taught, debated, and referenced in film history classes for ages to come.

Plus, it's got some amazing poster designs. What do you have to lose?! This one of the best offers Netflix Watch Instantly has to offer. Stream it before the license expires!

Gotta Share this...better than any ovie that's out there now...

Hmm. I Smell Corporate B.S.

Well, what do ya know?

I actually got a response from the programmer of Cinemagic. It's an automated response, but it's better than nothing.

Read it here:

First off I would like to apologize for sending out a "form" letter but the response from listeners has been overwhelming (and flattering to say the least) and it would be near impossible for me to respond to everyone of them. Please accept my apologies on this matter.   I would also like to thank you for your vested interest and support of Cinemagic. For the past 10 or so years, this has been a labor of love for me and it's been one of the highest honors of my life to bring the world of movie music to all the listeners of the channel. When I came up with the idea for Cinemagic in the early part of 2001, I never dreamt that the channel would be a part of some many people's lives. It truly has been an incredible experience for me and one that I will never forget.   To be honest, there really isn't much I can say about Cinemagic's removal from XM Satellite Radio. I know that this wasn't an easy decision for the powers that be. A lot of time and thought went into this decision and unfortunately Cinemagic was a casualty of not having enough bandwidth. I wish there was more that I could say but I'm not part of that process. My attention has and will continue to be on Cinemagic and the world of movies and movie music.   I understand the frustration that a lot of listeners have with this decision and I can see why many have chosen to cancel their subscriptions. That being said, I will continue to program Cinemagic in the same manner for the online and mobile app version of the channel. In fact, I've added several new shows to the lineup including "The TVZ Download" which is a full hour of music from the world of videogames, "The Cartoon Collective" which is an hour of music from the world of animated movies and television shows including music from the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, hard to find anime scores all the way to the music from Pixar and Dreamworks films, as well as a show that used to run on the channel called "The Big Score" which is two hours of nothing but score music (this show is great because there is a lot of great scores that I don't have segments produced for and that music can be found in this program). On top of that, I will continue to run all of the other shows that are currently on the channel. I hope that you are able to continue to listen to Cinemagic in this manner.   The simple fact that it was decided to keep Cinemagic running online leads me to believe that the management of SiriusXM understands the importance of the channel and that one day it may be brought back to the satellites. This isn't some inside information that I have, it's just my way to look at the situation in a positive manner.    I know for may listeners, the online or mobile app version of the channel is not a viable option and for that I am truly sorry. The world of film music is certainly a niche one, and I will miss each and every listener who is unable to make the transition. I do enourage you to sign up to the Cinemagic Fan Facebook page created by Allen Richards. He's done a great job with it and I will continue to be a part of the page, keeping fans of film music up to date on the events of the film world as well as Cinemagic. You can find the page here https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/313932475113?ap=1     Below is a copy of the email that my boss (Kenny Curtis) has been sending out to listeners. Hopefully his "form" letter can explain the decision process a little better than my own. If you have any other question or comments please feel free to email me back. I am on vacation next week, but I'm going to try my best to answer any questions listeners might have while sitting on the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina (as long as my wife allows me to).     Thank you so much for your support!!     Sincerely,   David Ziemer Program Director-Cinemagic Sirius XM Radio     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Thanks so much for taking the time to write to us regarding Cinemagic leaving the XM platform. Upfront, I have to tell you that there’s not a whole lot we can say that’s likely to resolve this for you in the way you’d like. The decision to removeCinemagic was not an easy one, but we find ourselves in this position every once in a while when our content opportunities and obligations exceed the amount of bandwidth we have available. We do not, for a moment, discount the impact that Cinemagic has had on our fans base over the past ten years; clearly it is a  format that has touched a great many people and generates loyalty and passion from a very committed audience. That said, we aren’t entirely turning our backs on Score music or the Cinemagic channel; it will be a special channel available full-time as part of SiriusXM Internet Radio and our mobile apps, and we’ve done our best to aggregate the valuable content to other satellite channels.  Our flagship interview programReel Time - featuring interviews with directors, producers, and actors -  is moving to channel 104, SiriusXM Stars Too - on both XM and on Sirius too.  Reel Time will air Thursdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm ET, Fridays from 9:00pm-10:00pm ET, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET.  We will also be adding a special weekly classic movie score show to SiriusXM Pops on channel 75 later this summer, again both on XM and Sirius.  (For updates on that show and any other information on programming, please visit www.siriusxm.com <http://www.siriusxm.com>). I really do appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us. This kind of response is a validation of sorts for the hard work that Dave Ziemer has done over the past ten years. As one of the original wave of XM programmers, I was here when Cinemagic was just a crazy idea in Dave Ziemer’s head, and I was privileged to watch it grow over the past decade. Please know that your email has been forwarded along to SIRIUS XM senior management for their consideration, as well. Thanks again, Kenny Curtis

Very Sad...

This is something I read. I didn't know about it until I read it. It has made me realize how much I've been neglecting my satellite radio. Since I lease my auto, I cannot install a satellite radio in my car. This s a problem b/c I never seem to know what is going on in the world of satellite radio anymore. Channels are always being phased out due to bottom line and other economic factors, even though they do not seem to depend on ratings so much as subscribers. I'm not sure why they decided to single out this wonderful channel. I listen to it on-line all the time. Thankfully, it will still be available on-line and as a mobile app, so I should not complain. I still is a worthy channel that should not be regulated in any way like it has failed in its appeal. Nothing will change for me. However, I feel that this is going to be the future of many such channels that do not cater directly to mainstream listeners. With Howard Stern suing his own bosses, should we be fearing for all of the channels? Something tells me this is going to get worse before it gets better. As much as I enjoy internet radio over listening to it in my car, I can feel a galactic shift happening. Are car and internet/mobile users being seen as separate audiences? Are we being marginalized? Victims of focus groups? Do the demographics not add up? Perhaps they feel that listening to this great music is too distracting to be driving to? If so, why do they leave the Playboy channel on the air?

Cinemagic

On July 1st, Cinemagic will move off XM Satellite Radio. It will be a special channel available full-time as part of SiriusXM Internet Radio and our mobile apps.

Our flagship interview program Reel Time -- featuring interviews with directors, producers, and actors - is moving to channel 104, SiriusXM Stars Too on both XM and on Sirius. Reel Time will air Thursdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm ET, Fridays from 9:00pm-10:00pm ET, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET. We will also be adding a special weekly classic movie score show to SiriusXM Pops on channel 75 later this summer, again both on XM and Sirius.