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We are losers. This is the first gone to the movies post in over a month. I remember seeing two or three movies a day. What has happened? Oh, yeah. The movies have sucked recently
I read the comic. Thought it was okay. It had that nice dystopian feel to it. But it didn't add anything new to the whole '1984' theme.
I still wanted to see the movie and I did, by gum.
It was okay. Despite, Mr Moore taking his name off the picture, I thought it was pretty faithful to the comic. The acts of the film corresponded to the different issues of the original comic. They through in some topical references about Bird Flu and America's war. But it didn't wow. I guess since I'd read the comic, (but can barely remember it) I didn't find anything new in the movie. It did try and tell a story and for that I'll give it an A for effort.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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How could I forget the quote? Sure it was incongruous, but it stuck with me until it came for review time.
"A Revolution without dancing, isn't a revolution worth having"
I have got to find the graphic novel. It's probably right next to the ark of the covenenant.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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Feh. It was OK for a Hollywood version.
Faithful too the book? It sure was! If by 'faithful' you mean 'changes key plot points and destroys the whole point of the novel'.
The book was about anarchy and the human spirit. Given the chance, could society operate in a 'leaderless' environment?
The movie is about inciting revolution, not creating a blank slate with an ambiguous ending. Too much 'Matrix' action, not enough intellectual subtlety. The end pissed me off. V's fate is drastically different in the novel for a very important reason. Evey's fate is similarly bastardized.
They also shied away from the racism issue (all people 'of color' were sent to detainment camps) and failed to illustrate the fascist oppression and constant surveilance that was keeping the populace under jackboot law.
But mostly they did not include the David J song "This Vicious Cabaret" so they can all go to Hell or Kansas.
Now to get me a 'V' mask. Got any connections Greg?
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They were handing them out at the Imax premieres. I found out that later of course.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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El Dingo Wrote:Now to get me a 'V' mask.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://search.ebay.com/guy-fawkes-mask_W0QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQxpufuZx">http://search.ebay.com/guy-fawkes-mask_ ... 3QQxpufuZx</a><!-- m -->
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
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I've never read the comic (although I'm next in a queue for a copy that's on loan). The movie was entertaining, which is to say I never got bored. Sure, it had plenty of gaping plot holes and was completely overblown in that classic comicbook way, but it surprised me once or twice in its direction, plus I'm a fan of Natalie Portman and John Hurt (V would make a fine double feature with 1984). I liked its politics but a comicbook movie will probably have as much impact as another bumper sticker. It didn't blow me away, but I felt I got my $9.50 worth, which is more than I can say for most films nowadays.
BTW, speaking of my girl Natalie, I'm sure y'all have seen this:
http://www.devilducky.com/media/42822/
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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Lady Cranefly and I never read the comic either.
Our reaction seems to be about what the rest of you had.
A decent movie, certainly not bad, but not great.
Some of the fight sequences (especially early on) sucked. You know, where the cameraman is 10 feet from the action, and all you get are limbs and bodies flying in and out of frame. Chaos technique, I call it. The naive viewer gets the distinct impression that lots of neat stuff is going on. The seasoned viewer WANTS TO SEE THE NEAT STUFF. Hollywood action directors should be required to take a class where they have to reproduce the fight sequences in Jackie Chan's Project A.
Interestingly, some of the later slow-mo sequences, with light trails behind the blades, worked very well for me. Stylish.
I did have a problem with John Hurt. Actually, not with him. But I'm a big fan of charismatic evil. The really creepy kind that can seduce you, make you rationalize that you're actually doing good (think Washington DC right now). John Hurt was just grotesque and frightening in every possible way. When I brought this up to Lady Cranefly, she pointed out that the movie was all about power through intimidation -- which is true. Charismatic evil would have been a whole different movie.
Anyway, as we were leaving the theater, Lady Cranefly asked me, "What next? Thank You for Smoking? Or are you still hot on Basic Instinct II?"
I responded, "Hmmm, let me see. Satire or vagina, satire or vagina--"
I got punched in the shoulder -- and not for the first time.
We'll see.
I'm nobody's pony.
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Where's my V mask?
Where's Natalie?
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Natalie is showing mighty fine sprawl technique.
She'll be safe from anacondas.
I should stop right there, but I'll chance an explanation.
I recently heard a WWII aneddote. Some US soldiers are crossing an island in the Pacific. They're a demolition squad, carrying explosives, seeking out enemy weapon stockpiles and blowing them up. They'r traveling through dense jungle, and the going is rough.
At night they pair up on opposite sides of trees to stand watch. They're supposed to stand and stay awake all night, but of course that's an impossibility. Soon they're all asleep.
They wake to blood-curdling screams. One soldier scrambles around his tree to see his partner in a compromising position. An anaconda has swallowed one of his legs all the way up to his groin. It can't get any further. If the guy had slept with his legs together, who knows what his situation would have been.
The number one concern is the guy's screaming. This is a stealth operation, after all. Once they've stuffed his mouth with cloth, they try to remove the anaconda. Pulling doesn't work. Cutting doesn't work either. It just makes the snake squirm all over the place. The brain of the group then has an epiphany. He pours gas all over the snake and lights it. Now they've got an anaconda on fire -- on a guy's leg -- squirming all over the place.
The vision must have been fantastic.
I think they eventually managed to cut the anaconda open lengthwise and get the guy free. His leg was raw and hairless from the digestive juices, but he was okay. Physically. I doubt his mind was ever okay after that.
Anyway, sprawl technique. Use it. You'll thank me later.
Brazil and Peru lose lots of ballerinas every year to anacondas.
--cranefly
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http://garywshockley.com/video/girl_vs_snake.wmv
You may have to download this file to play it.
My ISP isn't handling MIME types correctly.
I'm nobody's pony.
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shouldn't this be on the snakes on a plane thread?
great vid. hock:
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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Those freaking Guy Fawkes masks are all over the Occupy movement. You think they'll remember tomorrow and throw down?
Quote:Guy Fawkes mask inspires Occupy protests around the world
By Nick Thompson, CNN
updated 1:32 PM EST, Fri November 4, 2011
London, England (CNN) -- Generations of Britons have grown up pledging to "Remember remember the fifth of November: Gunpowder, treason and plot" -- the figure of Guy Fawkes linked forever with fireworks, bonfires and childhood fun.
Now -- more than four hundred years after the gruesome death of the man who plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament with barrels of gunpowder -- members of the Occupy and Anonymous movements are hoping to provide their own reason to remember Guy Fawkes Night.
On Saturday, November 5, hundreds of protesters wearing the sinister black and white Guy Fawkes masks plan to march on Parliament in central London.
"It will be a night our government never forgets," Malcolm, a member of hacker group Anonymous, said with a smile. "Our government should be expecting us."
The march will recreate one of the final scenes of "V for Vendetta," a film based on the comic books by Alan Moore about a mysterious masked revolutionary who brings down a totalitarian regime, succeeding where Fawkes failed by blowing up parliament.
The Guy Fawkes mask, worn by V, the film's protagonist -- with its diabolical grin, devilish black moustache and thin goatee on a porcelain white background -- has become the talisman of a new generation of activists as an unprecedented wave of disgust and anger with establishment figures has swept the world.
While the mask has been spotted in Occupy protests from Oakland to Hong Kong in the past month as people rally against what they perceive as growing corporate greed and rising social inequality, the mask was first embraced by international hacker ring Anonymous in 2008.
The group of hackers, notorious for their online attacks on high profile banks and government agencies, first wore the masks to conceal their identities in public protests against the Church of Scientology in 2008.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange recently wore one to a rally at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, where Occupy protesters and members of Anonymous have been camping in tents since the demonstration began three weeks ago.
Guy Fawkes was the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions.
Member of Anonymous UK
Malcolm, a 44-year-old Anonymous member and camper, says the mask has become "an international symbol for rebellion and anonymity."
"The point of wearing the mask is to be able to go to a protest without fear of retribution or aggression from the establishment," he said, his mask perched on the crown of his head.
"I have no problem with anyone having my identity, but I like the fact I can choose not to."
Joshua Whitfield, 19, is a fan of the Vendetta books but says it doesn't matter why people choose to wear it.
"Some people wear it to make a fashion statement, others because they know what it's about," he said. "I thought I would show my support for the book and for Anonymous by picking up a mask and being part of the movement."
The popularity of the mask -- an estimated 100,000 were sold last year -- has created a bit of a conundrum for activists who are trying to undermine, not support, businesses owned by the establishment.
Time Warner (which also owns CNN) owns the rights to the masks, meaning every mask sold puts more money, albeit a small amount, into the corporation's coffers.
Rather than continue to give money to a company they say they don't support, activists are now having their own replica masks mass-produced and shipped in from Asia, according to several Anonymous members.
Rather than buy an officially licensed mask at a shop in central London, Whitfield said he was able to purchase his mask from an Anonymous member for £3 ($4.80).
"We don't really want people putting money into corporate pockets, and this is one of our solutions," explained Anonymous's Malcolm.
In the four centuries since Fawkes was sentenced to death -- by hanging, drawing and quartering -- for his treason, there has been much debate in Britain over whether he was a terrorist or a freedom fighter.
Ironically Fawkes, far from being the anti-establishment hero he has come to be seen as in the years since his death, was a monarchist who merely wanted to replace the Anglican king with a Catholic queen.
But it is perhaps his "man of action" persona that most intrigues anti-establishment activists today, and Malcolm is quick to repeat the age-old adage about Fawkes.
"As they say -- Guy Fawkes was the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions," he said with a grin.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/04/world/euro...wkes-mask/
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The closest I've been to an Occupy movement is the one I saw in Galway.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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so much for anonymous threats.
and they're probably freezing their asses occupying Oak & SF in tonight's cold rain.
i'll give them another two hours, with the time change....
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