Geek Habitat

We watched Kinsey last night. Not surprisingly, reviews of the movie are polarized — people either love or hate the movie, or at least either love or hate Dr. Kinsey. The movie piqued my interest on Dr. Kinsey’s life and his research methods, and I’m inclined to learn more if for no other reason than to see if some of his detractors are over-wrought or right-on-target. It didn’t help that our Netflix DVD of the movie insisted on skipping during portions of two key scenes, so I may have missed some key dialogue such as during the interview with the serial pedophile (among other labels that would fit).

One review I read after watching the movie alleges that several hundred of Kinsey’s research subjects to study human orgasms were in fact children and infants… certainly that seems to go against the movie-Kinsey’s comment that sex should only involve consenting parties, presumably adults or at least adolescents. I don’t know if it’s true, nor to what extent the movie is an accurate portrayal of Dr. Kinsey and his research. At times, I felt like the movie was trying too hard to acknowledge Kinsey’s flaws or even vilify him, but then things would swing to the other extreme (Kinsey as Puritanical-society’s “sexual liberator”). Love him or hate him, love the movie or hate it, though — both force you to think and examine your own ideas, perspectives and background.

P.S.: Move over Colin Firth, I have a new lust object and his name is Peter Sarsgaard (… and that was before the full frontal nudity scenes (sights?) in the movie!) Peter’s a superb actor, having appeared in many movies (including Garden State), and I think he has the screen presence of an actor twice his age. In fact, his voice, delivery and some of his expressions remind me of John Malcovich, so much so that Justin and I thought he was a relation until the end credits.