Hotjets's Page

In addition to my other classes, I teach an international films elective at my high school. The elective's purpose is to teach my students about other cultures and to increase their interest in the rest of the world in an entertaining fashion. My wonderful wife set up my Netflix account as a Christmas present, so that I can preview movies before asking my administrators to buy them for the school. Before, I joined Netflix, I used to read reviews, order films, and hope for the best - while I picked some fine movies, my school purchased several that are either hideously boring to most high school kids or inappropriate in other ways. Now, I can avoid arranging such impractical acquisitions. Of course, I'll also just get movies so that I can enjoy watching them!

What am I looking for for my international films class? Well, the films have to be made by a non-U.S. studio and not the product of American writers, directors, or actors. I have shown the HBO/BBC production Dirty War, which features no American actors and which does not feel at all like an American movie, for example - I can make some exceptions. The movies need to be interesting enough to hold the interest of my students. While I love Seven Samurai, I won't show it to my students, as I think they'd find it too slow. I also need to avoid graphic violence, particularly overt sexual content, and large amounts of profanity. Most movies up to PG-13 are fine, and a fair number of R rated ones are OK too. I've joined several groups that can help expand my knowledge of suitable films.

As for me, I live in west Los Angeles, with my wife and our cats. I love science fiction and fantasy. I read John Scalzi, Tim Powers, Steven Barnes, and many other writers. When I don't read SF, I tend to enjoy reading history. I lived in the UK for nearly six years, back when I was in the Air Force - and no, I wasn't a pilot. Hotjets is a reference to Golden Age science fiction.