here's what i netflixed in march:

the shaggy dog - still more of twiddle thumbs' classic disney education. i haven't been enforcing the curriculum in a long time so i thought it'd be good to throw one in there. i haven't seen this since i was a kid so this is also like a re-education for me. the transformation to canine may seem simple and silly by today's film standards but it's still an enjoyable film.

the kite runner - i didn't know much about this one, just that the name was familiar somehow, maybe through praise on tv or commercials, but most likely because it kept popping up as a recommendation. this was a really good story. i don't want to reveal anything but let's just say that it was nicely done overall. if you were to browse the net for a synopsis, it might say something like a classic tale of friendship and love across time and country.

suede: lost in tv - i wanted to see suede's music videos because i had only seen a couple back in the day. i have seen this video collection years ago on vhs but was never a big enough fan to purchase it. i could probably find all the videos online somehow but it's nice to pop the disc in at home for better quality and to check out any bonus materials that may be. it's pretty amazing to go through footage of anyone who's been addicted to heroin and see their transformation, though brett anderson never looked as pathetic as some rock stars when they crawl deep in the hole.

portishead: roseland new york live - i really like portishead's two studio albums but it has only been until the past year or so that i have heard the roseland live cd. the dvd naturally goes hand in hand with the cd. i have read about the track differences and wanted to watch/hear them. as a live performance, it's not spectacular and actually rather boring. but as far as the music itself, well if you're a fan then you don't need convincing that it is good. it is nice to see the musicians perform to get a sense of what is sampled and what is live. when i listen to the studio albums, i just can't picture any of it live. i see layers of studio work in my mind and blend together to create a new world. to see it live is quite something. but this is no rock show. this is mellow stuff. which is why i labeled it boring. if you don't like the music, the performance won't catch your interest either.

the clash: westway to the world - i had seen a clash documentary years ago on mtv back when i was in high school. because of that, somehow this documentary seemed very familiar. i didn't feel like i learned anything new or that it was really worth my time watching it. i did like the clash and i do still like some songs, but i never was fan enough to buy all their albums. somehow this film didn't really even capture the aspect of the band i like. it seemed just like a lot of boring old geezers gabbing on about their youth. which it is but c'mon...

rhinoceros eyes - wow, what a waste of my time. and to think i had this saved in my queue for a long time, waiting for the dvd release and for netflix to offer it. that's what you get for putting movies in your queue for one or two cast/crew members only and not for plot reasons or rave reviews.

heroes del silencio: tour 2007 - netflixed this one because we wanted to see the band up close! we went to this tour but were very far away from the stage. it was alright but i read a lot of review complaints about the quality of it. it wasn't so bad for me because i'm not one of those people with a really expensive home setup so there were no weird issues for me. i did see some of the editing flaws pointed out but get over it.

sicko - wow, what to say about this film. i like how it shows some examples of health care systems in other first world nations. i think americans don't realize that there's more than one way to do things and the current way may not be the best way. i'm not saying we have to straight copy others, just that the world is a large place and we can learn from others. i have lived in another country and been through their health care system. thankfully never had to go through anything major (no surgery or broken bones) but for every cold i had i went to the doctor. i do not do that in america. in america when you get sick you self treat yourself with over the counter things. you might not even be sure of what you have. it if it's persistent, you could end up miserable and contemplate going to the doctor, whom might not see you or whom you might not be able to afford and so then the emergency room starts to look nice because they'll see you but you'll pay for it for the rest of your life. bad example perhaps but that's another one from my life. luckily i had insurance then and still do. however, health care is such an unaffordable and sometimes ridiculously bureaucratic process in this country that i'm conditioned not to see the doctor even for regular checkups, which is absurd.

critics of the film point out flaws in the systems of other countries or that you should take care of yourself to prevent health issues. some people do take care of themselves but do not have health care and cannot afford to see a doctor when an emergency happens or even visits for regular checkups. that is the fucked up part about this country. my mom is unemployed but pays a ton of money each month for crappy health insurance. she has a carpal tunnel type issue and was dicked around by her doctor who even operated and made it worse. you have to keep going to your doctor for a referral to a specialist and keep going back and forth, spending lots of money on these visits, until finally you see someone who is worth a damn and can help. that's the kind of fucked up shit that pisses me off. my mom is an american citizen but is contemplating moving back to her birth country, though she hates it, because they have a better healthcare system. you do the right things by taking care of yourself and getting insurance and you're still fucked. i really don't think the current health care system in america is working and i place very little faith in doctors and none in politicians. around me schools and hospitals are closing. the pharmaceutical industry is evil. have a nice day.