In a word: yes.

In several more words: JJ Abrams is a god.  First of all, I like all the things he’s created thus far so there was a good chance I’d like this movie.  Second, I did come in as someone who likes Star Trek to begin with so that ups the chances  even more.  Lots of action, great pace, good dialogue – everything you want in a sci-fi flick that’s aiming to restart a brand.  I’m wondering how long I’m going to have to wait for the next movie.  I’ve also decided that the best way to see a movie is to know absolutely nothing about it beforehand.  No or low expectations are the way to go.

Lastly, amusing JJ Abrams note: apparently this guy likes big red balls of liquid that float.  See Alias, season 1, episode 1.

Don’t make comparisons of Canada and the US.  Don’t talk about Quebec Independence.  You have to love a doc that can define Anglo-Canadian identity so summarily.  These are two of the rules defined by the manager of a cruise ship that takes Western tourists up the Yangtze river in China for a farewell tour.  With the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the water level was slated to rise a total of 175m.  That is fine if you happen to not live next to the river, your father a poor farmer who can’t afford to move his family.  Yu Shui is the elder daughter in just such a family.  At 16, with dreams of becoming a scientist but unable to afford high school, she goes to work on one of these cruise ships to make $200 a month – the equivalent to her father’s annual income.

I like a doc that can drop your jaw in the first view minutes.  Between shots of the beautiful scenery and bridges spanning the Yangtze to the concept that a family couldn’t afford to move, this one nails it.

http://uptheyangtze.com/

http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyesunday/uptheyangtze/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/dolphindealer/

More love for the CBC – this doc is about a Canadian named Christopher Porter who spend 15 years at the Vancouver Aquarium working with dolphins.  He set up an export business to sell dolphins from the Solomon Islands to marine parks around the world.  Given that tourists will pay $100 to swim with a dolphin, this is a highly lucrative venture and throughout the doc you see clips of happy, shrieking tourists doing just that.  However, you have to wonder if there’s any conservation/environmental understanding being taken in, which is what Chris Porter would have you think.  You can hardly believe a 5-star Dubai resort is an affordable or natural setting for the average person to encounter these incredible creatures.  It’s the classic entrepreneur vs environmentalist theme but still worth a watch, especially as this one runs under 45 min and you can check it out online.

I saw this documentary at the Global Visions Film Festival last November.  It follows Dr. Orbinski’s trip back to Somalia, Rwanda and Goma 15 years after he was there with Doctors Without Borders.  This isn’t a happy movie but it’s an eye-opening one.

You can see this movie on Sunday at 2pm at the Stanley A Milner library for a whopping $0.  The NFB Film Club shows a variety of Canadian movies about once a month and you can borrow copies through the EPL.

Also worth checking out: Cinema at the Centre

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/the_code/

But not three weeks before going to Vancouver >: (

Here’s a link to DocZone, where if you live in Canada, you can watch full length films online.

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/index.html

You can also follow DocZone on twitter here: http://twitter.com/DocsCBC

Tasty little wine bar in Oliver, just East of the Safeway.  It’s about twice the size of Tzin with a larger menu and wine list.  Sundays are a movie night – I have yet to check this out.  Reservations are a very good idea.  780-497-7858

Upcoming Films in January:
• January 4th: “Burn After Reading”
• January 11th: ‘Pineapple Express’
• January 18th: ‘Appaloosa’

http://www.arrangedthemovie.com/

Fantastic drama about two young women dealing with the process of arranged marriages – one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim.  Somehow it’s reassuring to see that a great movie can be made without an iota of sexual content.  In any other film, two women this beautiful would be less attired.

Would definitely watch again.