Category: "Movies"

Sicko - about France

Sicko - about France

Yesterday I saw Michael Moore's Sicko movie.

First off, let me say that it's absolutely terrifying when you see the stories of all those people literally ripped off by their health insurance company! Boy I was worried about that stuff before (when considering to move to the US), now I consider it as the #1 pitfall if I ever actually want to relocate over there.

Anyway, as always with Michael Moore, the reality is twisted to make it more... tasty? For example when he comes to France and shows how a "middle class family" lives... he doesn't actually show a middle class family.

He asks them how much they make and they say 8000 € a month. Well... the average salary in France is around $1500 a month. Now a family where both parent work will make an average on 3000 €/month. More than 2.5 times less than what Moore depicts as a "middle class" home.

On the other hand, the rest of the story about how the government takes care of our health is basically accurate... with a lot of details overly simplified...

Again, he states we pay a lot of taxes (I won't deny :P) but doesn't mention that those taxes aren't actually enough to cover for the costs. The healthcare system here is growing a humongous debt year after year. For some reason, it doesn't seem to implode though...

So how much can you actually trust the guy on accuracy?

Now I wish someone from the US would deny it all and tell me that if you cut your fingers off, you'll get them fixed, no matter what. And that if you get cancer, you'll get treatment without having to put a mortgage on your house... if you have one. That kind of crap would never happen in France. (I mean, it hasn't happened yet...)

The good thing: it helps me see the good side of France :> ('coz I could bitch about France for hours...)

I, Robot

I, Robot Went to see "I, Robot" tonight, just to get me out of my boxes for a while...

I was pleasantly surprised. Very pleasantly actually! I love it when you just go for entertainment and before you know it you find yourself thinking about the very deep nature of the human soul. Because that's what it is all about, if you ask me! ;) And, in this respect, this is the greatest movie I've seen since "Fight Club".

I guess the original book is just as good. Well, could be, but I'm pretty sure the actual movie serves it well. The visual effects are really cool. They'll definitely appeal to the geek inside of you! :)

There's two things though that I found a little deceiving:

  1. The pathetically obvious product placements. JVC, Converse, Audi... all over the screen, again and again, and in the dialogues too... Can someone tell those guys that most moviegoers are not blind? Btw, what about "USRobotics"? Do they realize there actually is, ahem... was a company called like that? (of course they must know) The movie doesn't say they've been bought by 3Com... :>>
  2. But the real sad thing is this: when they find out the reason of the robots' unexpected behaviour, this reason actually makes perfect sense... at least in a logical way. Nonetheless, the main characters won't give it the slightest thought before they decide they don't want it and start to fight it... That's really deceiving... IMHO... because I'd say the whole point of the story is to think about those reasons! But I can't really say more or I'll ruin the plot for those who haven't seen it yet...

Anyway, go and watch it! It's really good! Much better than things like the Matrix reloads and the Terminator sequels or even Minority Report if you're expecting that kind of stuff. Actually, I've never seen the late night show that crowded since I'm in Montpellier!