This ANZAC day was the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 1915 and thousands of people went along to the dawn services to commemorate our fallen soldiers. I have never been to a dawn service on ANZAC day, not for any political reasons, I just haven't felt like it is something that I have needed to do. A lot of people would slam me and say that I am being un-Australian for never showing my support, especially since the ANZAC legacy really seems to define us as a nation, but this is not a question of my respect for the ANZAC's - naturally I have great respect for their sacrifices, what I am talking about is feeling connected to the event, and please let me explain before you send me a hate message.
The older generations suffered greatly because of war, they were the ones who lived through compulsory conscription, post war depressions and mass loss and devastation. My generation came around at the end of the Vietnam war (1973-ish) and for a while there were peace times for Australia. I grew up in a time that did not understand the threat of war, did not hear of constant trouble abroad and had a generally happier time. This has lead my generation, for good or bad, to be somewhat disconnected from the realities of war. My father never had to go to war, or my siblings, I was not privy to the terror or the loss, I may be one of the only generations to know what that feels like.
I think that a lot of younger people are now representing at the ANZAC services because now people are starting to feel a re-connection. If you are under 30, then you have not lived in a peace-time at all in your lifetime. For the last 30 years there has been a war of some sort or another mostly centred around the middle east, and young people are now constantly reminded about the threat of war, they understand the sacrifice because it is their sisters and brothers that are going to war.
As a child, I thought that people were only meant to go to the ANZAC day services if they had lost someone in the war; and I suppose that I still feel a connection to that idea. I believe that ANZAC day it is a time to commemorate the fallen, to remember them, to treat it like wake and to tell stories about who they were and what they did. And so far in my life I have been lucky enough to not need to go and remember anyone, and I hope I never do.
It is true, that we should never forget their sacrifice, I cannot agree more with that. But I will stick to buying my ANZAC day badge, baking some ANZAC biscuits, contemplating the lives of others and watching from afar, for now I have no place among the mourners. To be there means that you are a part of the sacrifice, you have been touched by war, you have lost someone, you have the stories to tell and you have earned your seat at the table. For now I do not belong at that table, but I have great respect for those who do.
The older generations suffered greatly because of war, they were the ones who lived through compulsory conscription, post war depressions and mass loss and devastation. My generation came around at the end of the Vietnam war (1973-ish) and for a while there were peace times for Australia. I grew up in a time that did not understand the threat of war, did not hear of constant trouble abroad and had a generally happier time. This has lead my generation, for good or bad, to be somewhat disconnected from the realities of war. My father never had to go to war, or my siblings, I was not privy to the terror or the loss, I may be one of the only generations to know what that feels like.
I think that a lot of younger people are now representing at the ANZAC services because now people are starting to feel a re-connection. If you are under 30, then you have not lived in a peace-time at all in your lifetime. For the last 30 years there has been a war of some sort or another mostly centred around the middle east, and young people are now constantly reminded about the threat of war, they understand the sacrifice because it is their sisters and brothers that are going to war.
As a child, I thought that people were only meant to go to the ANZAC day services if they had lost someone in the war; and I suppose that I still feel a connection to that idea. I believe that ANZAC day it is a time to commemorate the fallen, to remember them, to treat it like wake and to tell stories about who they were and what they did. And so far in my life I have been lucky enough to not need to go and remember anyone, and I hope I never do.
It is true, that we should never forget their sacrifice, I cannot agree more with that. But I will stick to buying my ANZAC day badge, baking some ANZAC biscuits, contemplating the lives of others and watching from afar, for now I have no place among the mourners. To be there means that you are a part of the sacrifice, you have been touched by war, you have lost someone, you have the stories to tell and you have earned your seat at the table. For now I do not belong at that table, but I have great respect for those who do.
INTERSTELLAR
Release Date: 2014
Rating: M
Running Time: 169 mins
Christopher Nolan's finest offering to date, and a very fine example of excellent science fiction story telling. Using revolutionary filming techniques and effects, Interstellar won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award in 2014 and mesmerized audiences with its depiction of a post apocalyptic future that requires the assistance of space exploration to find another planet for the human race to recolonize.
The Earth is rapidly becoming uninhabitable, so a NASA physicist, Professor Brand (Michael Caine) formulates a plan to save mankind by finding a new home across the galaxy. To do this, he enlists the help of Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) a former NASA pilot and three researchers, and sends them on an incredibly dangerous mission that requires them to journey through a wormhole to find possible salvation in one of the three planets that exist on the other side. Cooper must leave his two dependent children in the hands of his aging father to participate in a mission that could possibly save the life of all of humanity.
This is an incredible watch, the space scenes are utterly gripping and beautiful, the story line is sentimental but not sappy and the acting is amazing. McConaughey is brilliant as Cooper, the self sacrificing and homesick father, Hathaway is bringing her best as Brand, Caine is as good as he always is, and Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck deliver perfectly as Cooper's adult children.
Interstellar had me hooked at the five minute mark, it is a beautifully put together piece of cinema that speaks volumes about sacrifice and love. One of the best science fiction offerings that I have seen in years.
FINAL SAY: Do not go quietly into that good night.
5 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 2014
Rating: M
Running Time: 169 mins
Christopher Nolan's finest offering to date, and a very fine example of excellent science fiction story telling. Using revolutionary filming techniques and effects, Interstellar won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award in 2014 and mesmerized audiences with its depiction of a post apocalyptic future that requires the assistance of space exploration to find another planet for the human race to recolonize.
The Earth is rapidly becoming uninhabitable, so a NASA physicist, Professor Brand (Michael Caine) formulates a plan to save mankind by finding a new home across the galaxy. To do this, he enlists the help of Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) a former NASA pilot and three researchers, and sends them on an incredibly dangerous mission that requires them to journey through a wormhole to find possible salvation in one of the three planets that exist on the other side. Cooper must leave his two dependent children in the hands of his aging father to participate in a mission that could possibly save the life of all of humanity.
This is an incredible watch, the space scenes are utterly gripping and beautiful, the story line is sentimental but not sappy and the acting is amazing. McConaughey is brilliant as Cooper, the self sacrificing and homesick father, Hathaway is bringing her best as Brand, Caine is as good as he always is, and Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck deliver perfectly as Cooper's adult children.
Interstellar had me hooked at the five minute mark, it is a beautifully put together piece of cinema that speaks volumes about sacrifice and love. One of the best science fiction offerings that I have seen in years.
FINAL SAY: Do not go quietly into that good night.
5 Chili Peppers
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