J-Town Diaries: Episode 1

*** Updated:
Due to the sensitive nature of my internship, I have decided to delete the first episode of 'J-Town Diaries' from YouTube. Sorry for the inconvenience.

- Avi

This is the first entry in what I hope will be an ongoing series co-produced by Noam and myself. Please subscribe on YouTube.

Please Standby

Earlier today, my group had a good view of Jerusalem

as we studied the security fence.

Hello.

Please standby. Future updates to the Shul of Rock will be delayed. I am in the process of bouncing around Israel without a steady internet connection. This will all change when I am securely in my own apartment, starting in late March. Until then, enjoy the spotty updates.... Sorry.

The Eagles Have Landed

After a great going-away party, Noam and I bounced to Israel. We are currently in Joey's apartment in Jerusalem, waiting for him to fly in tommorow in time for Shabbat. I haven't done much sleeping in the past two days, and I'm about to pass out, but I thought I'd share the above photo with you. I spotted it in Joey's neighbourhood this afternoon.

Much love,

- Avi

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The movie trailer premiered today at IndianaJones.com, and it looks great. It has been so long since the last adventure with Dr. Jones.

The film's IMDB page lists the languages spoken within the movie as English, German, Hebrew, and Nyaneka. Could this mean that the Ark of the Covenant will make a cameo? Rumours have been pointing to that for a while, and when you watch the trailer, you will see a very familiar looking government warehouse...

The film will be released internationally in May 2008. Woo hoo! No waiting!

Cloverfield

I first saw the movie trailer for Cloverfield last summer, before witnessing the 'big n' loud' Transformers movie. It seemed to be a fun preview - untitled and intriguing. I just came home from seeing the final film with Danny E. It was pretty damn cool.

Cloverfield is not a 'film'. It is not cinema. It's a ride - an attraction. An exhibit. It can be summed up through brief description. Four friends make their way through a war zone which was formerly Manhattan, in search of the protagonist's girlfriend. An enormous alien threat is attacking the city, and it is unleashing creepy spider creatures. Oh, and the Statue of Liberty gets decapitated.

This is all captured on a handheld video camera. It sounds like a tired gimmick, but this is no Blair Witch Project. This film is lively, has a sense of humour, and delivers both thrills and some drama. It's worth watching once.

As for the rumours that a barf bag is a necessary viewing companion - this is false. If you can watch amateur YouTube videos, you can watch this movie. The cinematography isn't much different. But that's the point.