tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28311094210727755012024-03-21T19:44:04.198-07:00Last VCR Reviews and TheoriesFan Theories, Philogophies and Reviews. It's the movie you didn't see because we look at films and TV from a perspective that changes the way you see the movie. My goal is to make a movie or show watchable again in a new light. Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-29590055185835279692019-08-16T09:08:00.002-07:002019-08-16T09:08:34.834-07:00White Nationalism - Domestic Terrorism on the Rise<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Domestic Terrorism on the Rise</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christian Identity and the internet's ability to unite fringe groups are giving a new rise to domestic terrorism in the United States. And I'll prove why in an essay that's totally unnecessary but I really enjoy writing this sort of thing. So here we are. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Department of Homeland Security defines a domestic terrorist this way:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">"Domestic terrorists are individuals who commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as racial bias and anti-government sentiment..." intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government, or affect the conduct of the government." </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>"...in fact, there have been more arrests and deaths caused by domestic terrorists than international terrorists in recent years."</b> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(FBI Director's Statement before the House Homeland Security Committee on May 8, 2019)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">You can see the increase in extremist's violence charted in this interactive map created by the Anti-defamation League: <a href="https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resource-knowledge-base/adl-heat-map?s=eyJpZGVvbG9naWVzIjpbXSwiaW5jaWRlbnRzIjpbXSwieWVhciI6WzIwMTUsMjAxNV19" target="_blank">LINK</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you go back to 2014, 2015, you can see activity steadily sits in the double digits (2014 = 36 , 2015 = 63, and then a sharp rise in 2016 to quadruple digits = 1,321, then it doubles in 2017 to 2,482 and 2018 = 3,045.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you scroll down you can see details of the attacks that didn't quite make headlines. Even some funny ones. One Minnesota man made a pig pinata that said "Fuck the Police" with an explosive device inside of it. And the less funny ones, like the man who killed 11 people in a Synagogue in Pennsylvania.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">And if you need a close-up 1 to 1 comparison. In 2017 you can see only 13 people died of domestic terrorism. While last weekend 31 people were killed in the two-pronged attack in El Paso and California. (<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d79f88e4b0db3478a04405/t/5b2d58210e2e72a175e8aa2a/1529698339356/Domestic+Terrorism+in+the+US+2017.pdf" target="_blank">LINK</a> to 2017 data)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's dismissive to say these are random crazy men who choose shoot up a place in isolation. Because these attacks, though seemingly random, have a common ideology, that has pervaded in America, and caused one Civil War already. That ideology is Christian Identity. This common ideology is present in multiple present-day groups that could congeal or unite under extreme circumstances. From racially motivated attackers like Dylan Roofe to border security guards who see immigrants as a deadly serious threat. You can see the pervasiveness of these thoughts in manifestos on 8chan, GAB and other forums where ideologically-motivated mass shooters are recruited and inspired to carry out their acts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proud Boys</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nativists</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immigration Hardliners</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pro-Gun Advocates</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White Supremecists</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hate groups (Neo-nazis, KKK)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrisitian Identity Advocates</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conspiracy Theorists (Alex Jones, Q Anon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">End of Day Preachers and believers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pro-Militia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anti-Government Extremists</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each of these groups has a core in the Christian Identity movement, which we'll get into in the history portion. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The issue of domestic terrorism is not a specific problem arising from a single one of these groups. The danger is the radicalization of these common ideologies and the possibility of of these groups congealing under a united front. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The danger, as Robert Evans posits in his 7 part series "It Could Happen Here": is that if any single one of these groups was able to disrupt the government enough to require military action. That retaliation from the government could propagate an "us vs them" mentality that could unite these groups. End of days, martyrdom, victimhood, persecution; for these reasons the groups would finally feel justified in violent extreme action against The State (and thereby The New World Order). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This may sound alarmist, and it is a little bit, I know that. But I think it's something to keep an eye on, because it happens in other countries all the time. After all a civil war is just unchecked violent groups rising up to disrupt a country's infrastructure. And that's a slippery slope that can get very slippery very quick. And there are just enough pieces in this puzzle to keep an eye on it. For instance, did you know liberals are actually buying more guns in the US. And one of the reasons for that is linked to fear of far-right extremist attacks, as cited in this BBC (<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38297345" target="_blank">LINK</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Brief History</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To backtrack a bit, let's talk about the through-line that unites these groups. Christian Identity wasn't the spawn of fascism, racism and domestic terrorism, but it has been the quiet vehicle keeping them alive in America. You can see the sentiments of Christian Identity drawn up from this ideal in manifestos from marches against MLK to the Mosque shooting in New Zealand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I'm not going to go into the entire history, because that would have to be its own article. What's important is important are two main things: proud white christian heritage, and the idea of <b>The New World Order persecuting white men</b>. The idea that white people are the special chosen people of the earth and that they are being attacked by a cabal (of Jews and minorities). A cabal that is totally in charge of things from faking the Holocaust and Sandy Hook to owning the "liberal media" and Hollywood. Take a second if you would and look back up at the list. Some form or another of Christian Identity and The New World Order idea plays into the ideologies of every group on that list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how did this start? Well fears of blacks and minorities have always been a prevalent issue in America. White people have stood at the docks and thrown bricks at every type of immigrant from the Irish and Italians, to the present-day Mexicans. And a fear of black people has kept the KKK alive, even today, 140 years after the end of the Civil War. (Fun fact, the KKK regularly marched at our Christmas day parade in my home town in South Carolina.) The real fear isn't crime. The real fear arises as a trend when the white middle class feels threatened by a rising lower class, which isn't blamed on white lower class but on minorities swindling the system. (As illustrated in this beloved pop-song </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73tiBBzvFM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73tiBBzvFM</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9B6JzDmq7FPBdzcF23kW_0JexCGxHg-Zl4V4l81ZZQXVpm9Z__2go1pH-vlN2wv1tBFxXOb7YGTB1kL_wNj-8Xb2z_goLpGqah2K2w8r2rdQcvTrNVdYH9lxRqNKZ2K8Gw3kvC-apuM/s1600/baby.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="726" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9B6JzDmq7FPBdzcF23kW_0JexCGxHg-Zl4V4l81ZZQXVpm9Z__2go1pH-vlN2wv1tBFxXOb7YGTB1kL_wNj-8Xb2z_goLpGqah2K2w8r2rdQcvTrNVdYH9lxRqNKZ2K8Gw3kvC-apuM/s320/baby.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of this fear in America becomes very important in the 40's because a young man named George Wallace had a real big problem. See he was a Nazi and pro-fascist in the 1940s-50s, and despite his best efforts, he just couldn't figure out how to gain support in America after we pantsed the Germans in "that whole World War 2 thing." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So his solution was to tone down the pro-nazi rhetoric and amp up the pro-white rhetoric. And a long line of this dialogue has propagated from Welsey Smith ad Christian Nationalistic Crusade in the 60's to present day Gavin McInnes and his violent group of Proud Boys who led the march in Charlottesville. </span><br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Funny Thing about Conspiracy Theories</span></b></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Testimony FBI Director Christopher Wray said. <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists are on the rise,” (like: Q-Anon, Youtube Theorists, Alex Jones) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">also"...</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I will say that a majority of the domestic terrorism cases that we’ve investigated are motivated by some version of what you might call white supremacist violence.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">While not all conspiracy theories are deadly, those specifically identified in the FBI’s 15-page report have led to either attempted or successfully carried-out violent attacks. For example, the Pizzagate conspiracy. Where tweets by Q-Anon and rhetoric by Alex Jones led a 28-year-old man to invade a D.C. restaurant with his assault-style weapon.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6U-wYs896zpKGrZ_QV3ZODnr7cTser83Y6pYZweWKTNhOR4Dqz11x_r9OUGHEtnWWe5NUvhZs74S9COSGRVlEEzKgZiDQB3FERNDe04ASo39pXHfM_FuZyq-LDL_Oov1fg8o9LxbHyY/s1600/1490461408-c7xrufox0ae0a-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="480" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6U-wYs896zpKGrZ_QV3ZODnr7cTser83Y6pYZweWKTNhOR4Dqz11x_r9OUGHEtnWWe5NUvhZs74S9COSGRVlEEzKgZiDQB3FERNDe04ASo39pXHfM_FuZyq-LDL_Oov1fg8o9LxbHyY/s320/1490461408-c7xrufox0ae0a-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supporters who believe Pizzagate was real</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1566" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXH_6OSdRdY7yoEZJhyphenhyphenhDYOjl_rHNfm82L0oO8MPHgPLtITJP4iY__78ZMNxVPKZxa5dN0fNpbyEDATNc883fWOk8XfohLOYw6G9rQ3P3XaK4_nyFk6StHcfWuUOYdqeZIHKhyn9foH8o/s320/161205-pizza-gunman-tease_lwvrtr.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supporter who thought Pizzagate was real</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXH_6OSdRdY7yoEZJhyphenhyphenhDYOjl_rHNfm82L0oO8MPHgPLtITJP4iY__78ZMNxVPKZxa5dN0fNpbyEDATNc883fWOk8XfohLOYw6G9rQ3P3XaK4_nyFk6StHcfWuUOYdqeZIHKhyn9foH8o/s1600/161205-pizza-gunman-tease_lwvrtr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ip</span></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">While in the past, these fringe groups quietly festered in the dark corners of gun shows and basement Klan meetings. A new resurgence has populated the American dialogue. A massive recruiting via memes and message boards. If a single banner was erected for all the new recruits it would be Pepe the Frog. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwH4613jE3bLaZEjhBiczdGUPfLy80V-5IkvyKvHhjDgphyGR4nOBN_gPW3QFAeegiDg5KMoNk1v6DIOs5IMCMiOaEg3cWz90nBh_roZ54TKjHUCz77n9Z72TzM11a4aYlj7nUAr8Go/s1600/download+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwH4613jE3bLaZEjhBiczdGUPfLy80V-5IkvyKvHhjDgphyGR4nOBN_gPW3QFAeegiDg5KMoNk1v6DIOs5IMCMiOaEg3cWz90nBh_roZ54TKjHUCz77n9Z72TzM11a4aYlj7nUAr8Go/s320/download+%25281%2529.png" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this was the first result in the Google Search for Pepe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhamwydFRLDTlluBeqmlPtj3xhQR3QJRHEteVp-sbkSFssL5lq_zI_Um21d5czqulWo-YalEgGsq4tB_3p8Rm_0Ymxhzd1ttakOWqzcSVhDVzaXw-dsvJ0YV_sb2bzCIAcZONhsKtS9xc/s1600/pepethefrog-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="147" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhamwydFRLDTlluBeqmlPtj3xhQR3QJRHEteVp-sbkSFssL5lq_zI_Um21d5czqulWo-YalEgGsq4tB_3p8Rm_0Ymxhzd1ttakOWqzcSVhDVzaXw-dsvJ0YV_sb2bzCIAcZONhsKtS9xc/s320/pepethefrog-1.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is about the third.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Because a white nationalist can't recruit a young, disenfranchised 20-year-old by ranting about the great Jewish cabal. The young person would run away. But what our recruiter <i>can </i>do is make racist jokes and share offensive memes with a kid who wants to be edgy. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">As this sort of dialogue becomes normalized, over time the Jewish Cabal idea can slowly pivot from being a joke, to being reality. And I know this sounds far fetched, but normalizing this sort of ideology can be traced to Boris Johnson, Hitler, and of course our commander and thief, Trump. Through humor, through dog whistling, and tongue and cheek speech. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A huge issue is how Trump thrives off of conspiracy theories. Not because he's a necessarily an idealist, but because it draws headlines. And headlines for Trump means free publicity. His Birther conspiracy about Obama kept him in the headlines for months and arguably set him up to be someone who looked to be on par with a president. And while not openly a Sandy-Hook denier or Q Anon advocate. He enjoys dancing around advocating these conspiracy theorists to draw headlines. This is why he won't shut the fuck up about The Clintons, because they've been a great foil for conspiracie; alleging that Hillary killed Seth Rich in 2016, the "lock her up" slogan, and using them as a shield against accusations of rape and as a pivot from Trump's relationship with Jeffery Epstien. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As I said, I don't think Trump is an idealist, I don't think he's a fascist or active White Nationalist. I think he knows that trolling the media by talking about these things keeps the attention on him. The unintended consequence is the normalizing of racist and extremist rhetoric. The issue is that this rhetoric from an authority figure validates people who are involved in violence and dehumanizing minorities. From the El Paso shooting, where the shooter mimed Trump's own "invasion" theory. To Cesar Sayoc, the terrorist who mailed bombs to ex presidents and members of the press. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: ProximaNova, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">And</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> when Trump says "it isn't a bad thing to be called a nationalist, I'm a nationalist", <i>that </i>is normalizing a dark path toward fascism. Because as we talked about in The History, fascism is what started this movement. And if unchecked, that could very well be where it ends.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedts_Uphyjjh7TzEcLcJ54U9qbG9ZHGIIRKgj8SsPVNmLW01UacMN2eMfKNEUw4vXG06U3WqJXUhGyt_F1B7rQjcw8FjLzbzC8JlZqrJJmfpcwv09l_v_33mHPgxIhwAyXq_ev5UX9FQ/s1600/Screen-shot-2016-01-04-at-4.46.10-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1163" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedts_Uphyjjh7TzEcLcJ54U9qbG9ZHGIIRKgj8SsPVNmLW01UacMN2eMfKNEUw4vXG06U3WqJXUhGyt_F1B7rQjcw8FjLzbzC8JlZqrJJmfpcwv09l_v_33mHPgxIhwAyXq_ev5UX9FQ/s400/Screen-shot-2016-01-04-at-4.46.10-PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Slippery Dragon</span></b><br />
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Here's a question, have you ever heard of a white church having surveillance put on it by the Department of Homeland Security? Or a white neighborhood having a curfew? Or laws that groups of a certain number of white men can't gather at a time? Probably not, because it doesn't happen in the United States. Despite the majority of serial killers, domestic extremists, and the continued presence of the KKK (the US's oldest domestic terrorist group)<b> the government does not perceive white men as a threat.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These groups know this, and therefore government will also be slow to crack down on this kind of activity. And like a festering wound, it will get worse, because we are going to continue to ignore it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember that militia that staged the <i>armed</i> take-over a federal building in Oregon? Aside from the leaders, most of the men were only sentenced to a few months of probation. And while one leader was shot while reaching for a firearm in a scuffle with police, I don't believe that could have happened to anyone but a group of affluent white people. Imagine how this might have played out differently if the group was say, black militants or a Hispanic "gang", or (and here's the ringer) Islamic militants.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9BwjAIfMbBvBuQB_nHcFFXVBpiICSQQbBiJ9aBPMkHEcKKc6oZFCea0Bty3xINWqeRaZ9QnhbAnRIhRd6E2ZbGbQ-hN0mxp2hnxFqtkObV-7vxLrfoh-nswydARmVDBEndGZ1Uovjj4/s1600/469914381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="578" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9BwjAIfMbBvBuQB_nHcFFXVBpiICSQQbBiJ9aBPMkHEcKKc6oZFCea0Bty3xINWqeRaZ9QnhbAnRIhRd6E2ZbGbQ-hN0mxp2hnxFqtkObV-7vxLrfoh-nswydARmVDBEndGZ1Uovjj4/s320/469914381.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all these unharmed violent militants </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The issue is there is no difference</b>. Violent young men drawn to a dogma provided by older men who seek power and prominence will always be the creators of violent militant groups, whether it's in America or South Africa. The problem America faces, is that we are letting them continue to get away with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert Evans was a war correspondent in the Middle East and Syria. He spent a lot of time embedded with people fighting these militants in countries that used to be stable democracies. He outlines how militants in those countries rise to prominence, disrupt the government, and how (if unchecked)<a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-it-could-happen-here-30717896/" target="_blank"> <b>it could happen here</b></a><b>. </b></span>Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-90706087653957100822019-03-14T13:25:00.002-07:002019-03-14T13:25:45.361-07:00REVIEW: The Verdict on SerialI'm in my office screaming and cursing and confused. A coworker walks by with a look on her face. "Y'all alright in there?" she says.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, Serial!" I said, but what she heard was "Cereal!" I live in the south, where NPR is held with as much regard as the Winter Olympics. She left looking more concerned than before, either believing I'm crazy or hungry or just mad hungry.<br />
<br />
Serial just threw me through a window. It's been pingponging my brain between the verdict for the death of Hae Min Lee. I have dedicated my whiteboard to solving the mystery six episodes ago and now no one is EVER going to know the truth. The listeners will split up into camps and argue for or against Adnan, rarely convincing the other party off our circumstantial evidence. If you haven't listened to the Serial podcast through the final episode, this post is going to spoil a lot. So ye be warned. And double spoiler, I'm certain I have the answer, which I'm going to outline in the first section here.<br />
<br />
Not knowing the verdict wasn't the only cause of my turmoil. It was what the whole series says about our legal system, about journalism, and how responsible any single citizen is to them both. And I feel like I just got tossed into a stranger, blurrier world than when I started listening to the podcast in October. Which really says a lot about how well this was made. I'm going to critique it a lot here, but I only to that with media I hold in the highest regard, I think Serial is the True Detective of Podcasts.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. The Verdict on Adnon</span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">A. That dude totally did it</span></h3>
The last episode makes two great points that turned me around about how I considered the verdict for Adnan. That said, I had the verdict pegged 5 episodes in and every episode after only confirmed my theory.<br />
<br />
I want to preface my verdict by saying that Sarah Koenig's analysis of the proceedings and evidence provided by the state and the judge should not have upheld a guilty verdict. She makes a great point about that. The detectives had no physical evidence, a loose story on an inaccurate timeline, almost completely rooted on the confession of one young man whose story couldn't stop changing. Koenig is definitely right, the court should have acquitted Adnan, and if his defense attorney had done a better job, he might be free today.<br />
<br />
The loose evidence and deep holes in the timeline are what gave Koenig trouble, even after over a year of in-depth research in reporting, it's hard to fathom that a jury could convict him in less than a week.<br />
<br />
On the other hand Sarah is clearly sympathetic to Adnan, working to be objective, but lacking any clear evidence that he didn't do it, she spins his hand-fed narrative to the audience, and hey it works. I really like this guy and my heart's telling me that dude can't be a killer, that he might be the victim here. But on the other hand,<i> he totally fucking did it</i>.<br />
<br />
I think the biggest pit for Koenig's verdict is that she talked to Adnan at all. She is a great journalist, but in this case she was not 100% objective. I think she should have coached someone to interview him as she spent time doing the research, then put those two stories together, and acted more as a hammer for the truth between the evidence and his story and less like the cushion. Meaning, I think when we heard the facts and his story she usually would shrug her shoulders and say: you could see this story going either way, like: "I really don't want to be the person who says this dude's guilty on air after all this time he let me interrogate him". I mean if she did, then who would ever let her interview them afterwards?<br />
<br />
If she had not conducted the interviews herself I think she would have said what Dana said during the final episode. Dana's opinion was exactly what I thought by the 5th episode, and likely what judge, jury, and the detectives knew to be true as well. Simply, that there are too many coincidences for Adnan not to be the culprit.<br />
- The phone being by Linkin Park that night<br />
- The call to Shei<br />
- Jay knowing where the car is and you know, going through this whole ordeal of blaming it on Adnan and going to court and risking jail time for one story. You know, Adnan, who just happened to loan him his own car and phone the same day.<br />
- The fact that Don (Hae's new boyfriend) had made sure to remember that the instant he found out she'd gone missing while Adnan claims not to remember anything about that day.... oh except the morning, Stephanie's birthday, that he probably asked Hae for a ride, and gave Jay his phone and car on that day. But aside from that, clearly couldn't remember anything.<br />
<br />
Dana's right. Yes there are huge holes in the detectives' timeline and sure they weighed the deck to support Jay's argument, but they had their culprit. Look I'm not a lawyer or a detective, I'm just a culture junkie who happens to love detective stories, from The Maltese Falcon to Brick. But I've been keeping rabid, fanatical details of the series from start to end, and while I can only speculate why Adnan murdered Hae, I can say for certain <i>that dude fucking did it.</i><br />
<h3>
B. Never Listen to the culprit</h3>
Recently I picked up a friend from jail the day after he'd been arrested. It was later in the morning, he'd been in court and a cell all day. The first thing my buddy did was call his boss to explain why my he was not at work. He apologetically tells his boss a detailed and emotionally riveting account about how he'd fought off a boyfriend abusing his girlfriend near my buddy's apartment. His boss is satisfied, I see his bandages, I'm satisfied.<br />
<br />
When he hangs up he tells me the real story, and it has nothing to do with a relationship dispute. Now this friend is as far from an actor as a roughneck tower-climbing surfer can be, but he laid the story out with perfect ease and conviction as if it'd happen. He laid it out like Samuel L. Jackson in Resovoir Dogs had coached him. That was after one night sleeping off a hangover in a jail cell.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Adnan has had 15 years to work on every aspect of this story. 15 years.</b><br />
<br />
Many of the questions Koenig had are things he'd probably figured out with his lawyer or in correspondence with friends and family long ago. He's definitely a smart guy, you put a smart guy in one place for 15 years I bet he could recite the Iliad from memory.<br />
<br />
Now I'm not saying he's a liar or Koenig let herself get duped. What I am saying is that this fact makes him a <i>totally unreliable source of information.</i> My rule throughout the series has been not to listen to anything Adnon says as fact, that is to add it to the mix of other evidence.<br />
<br />
How many times did Koenig describe Adnan's own accounts as convenient, just as Dana says.<br />
<br />
<h3>
C. Listen to Jay</h3>
I mean in the "really listen" the way some guardian wizard tells their portage to listen to the wind. The final fact presented on Serial as the only hard evidence they actually had is that Jay knew where Hae's car was. This works in two directions,<br />
1 - Jay had Adnon's car.<br />
- If Jay had Adnon's car and then picked up and hung out with Adnan (as several people testify to), exactly at what point in the night did he have time to:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Find Hae</li>
<li>kill Hae </li>
<li>Be contacted by someone who had killed Hae on a cell phone he'd just borrowed that morning</li>
<li>help bury Hae</li>
<li>or bury her by himself</li>
<li>ditch Hae's car (b/c w/or without an accomplice, he knew where it was)</li>
<li>and if you believe (I think it was Katherine's? story) sneak the dirty shovels into Adnan's car </li>
</ul>
<br />
- If Hae is en-route from one school to another, where would a stranger (like the potential murderer they discussed) or Jay have somehow stopped her to kill her? Sure you can work out ways it could happen, elaborate or simple, but it would contradict multiple testimonies outside Jay and Adnans' own versions of the story.<br />
- and on that note, if it is this stranger, who alway assaults his victims and always robs them. If Hae was neither assaulted or robbed and the car was itself abandoned, then why pursue that path of thinking?<br />
<br />
<h3>
D. My Theory</h3>
When I first started listening to the podcast I had my finger pegged on Jay, he was shady, inconsistent, and you know, worked at a porn store. Adnan though, just seemed like a guy caught up with the wrong people and had the bad luck of being Hae's recent ex.<br />
<br />
<br />
But by that fourth episode I was certain that wasn't the case, and if you listen again to the subsequent episodes, they support my theory. My theory is simple, that Jay knew of Adnan's plan ahead of time and completely collaborated with it. The reason his story changes is to protect himself, and his own involvement so he does not go to jail. I think Adnan said: "Hey man I'm going to kill that bitch" and Jay either believed he wasn't serious or he would chicken out.<br />
<br />
Jay and the detectives that interviewed him both knew that he would go to jail for confessing in the collaboration. The detectives helped him elude confessing his own involvement before their tapes started recording and set him up with a lawyer for his cooperation in the case. The idea that they're all conspiring against Adnon at once to reign him in as the killer is hardly believable.<br />
<br />
This still leaves the question of why Jay did it. That's speculation and heresay, but for my two-cents I think he agreed to help Adnon, didn't believe he'd actually do it, would chicken out or think better of it when he actually confronted Hae, until he actually arrived to see her body, by which time he was too late not to be an accomplice. Adnon had basically kidnapped Jay, Jay had no car and no cell phone and was standing next to a murderer. A murderer who had class with Jay's girlfriend the very next day, and who threatened that girlfriend.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-85047979890683579282019-03-14T13:03:00.000-07:002019-03-14T13:05:16.130-07:00ESSAY: How the Dark Knight Rewrote the book on Superhero Movies<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the Dark Knight was released I worked as a projectionist at Regal Cinemas. Every night I would save Dark Knight as the last movie I reeled so I could watch it. I've probably seen it over a hundred times and today I am still able to re-watch it and enjoy it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's more than a superhero movie, it's a masterpiece in filmmaking. I know, I know, it sounds silly when talking about a superhero movie, but it is executed with such precision, simplicity and quality. It has that dope, unique Hans Zimmer soundtrack that includes the notable violin screech when the Joker appears. The noise plays at the opening of the movie and you already know something bad is going to happen in that building before the window blows out. The acting was impeccable. From Aaron Eckhart's transformation, to Christian Bale's performance as the guy from American Psycho, and of course Heath Ledger's performance as a young Tom Waites (seriously have you seen this? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsRbhBXPgKk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsRbhBXPgKk</a>). The editing is genius, seamlessly switching between action, like the Joker interrogating Harvey as Bruce saves the accountant. And also switching between the personal accounts to the big picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that it has inspired tropes in action movies as much as Sergio Leonne did with <i>A Fistful of Dollars</i>. <i>The Dark Knight </i>script has inspired action movie filmmakers and rewritten the book on how to make a helluva action movie. As the Joker says: "You've changed thing FOREVER"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The premise is realistic, dark and gritty. It is less cartoonish, as early Batman movies and superman movies were. Everything has to be justified and is made more plausable. From Harvey Dent becoming two-face to how Batman gets his awesome equipment.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - EVERYONE very notably <i>Man of Steel </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - It should be said of course that The Expendables, Machete, and Scott Pilgrim chose to completely go the other direction, but I'd say it wouldn't have worked or been relevant to do so without Dark Knight, and probably Sin City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The villain intentionally being caught to further some convoluted plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Skyfall</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Star Trek: Into Darkness</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Iron Man 2</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>The Avengers</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Not being a Hero or a Vigilante. Alfred says , Bruce Wayne always confirming through the first two movies that he is not a vigilante or a hero, but a legend, as Alfred perfectly puts it "He's not being a hero, he's being something more" Though in the examples, the hero doesn't become an idealist or icon, they become something else, but don't register as a hero.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Iron Man 2 and 3</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> - The Avengers - </i>They're what does Sammy L call them? Supersoldiers?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> - Thor - </i>he's a god.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Having a villain that's more likable/intriguing than the hero</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Loki, <i>Thor, The Avengers</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> - </i>Kahn<i>, Star Trek: Into Darkness</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> - </i>The hot chick from<i> Man of Steel </i>(in my opinion)</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>
5. The main character/villain doesn't spend much time on screen. Of course Nolan didn't invent this technique, it's adapted from horror/monster movies, leaving the imagination to run free after a few glimpses of the monster. And making the audience want to see more of the monster/bad guy. Much like Jaws didn't make a full appearence until the last quarter of the film, Cloverfield, Godzilla, recently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Dark Knight Rises - Ironically, don't see Batman too much until the fourth act.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - The Iron Man Suit in <i>Iron Man </i><i>3</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Javier Bardem in <i>Skyfall</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Playing up that the suits, government/city also fighting the hero.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Of course most movies do this to up the stakes but they used this to fuel the plot very well, in them chasing down Batman and getting Harvey. And Batman beating up the Swat team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Man of Steel</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. The terrifying low-budget viral tape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Yes of course it's been done a million times, with the villain broadcasting his threat across the world but it had become scarier and relevant with Bin Laden's threats after 9/11 and the campy cheesy effect it had in the 90's</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Iron Man 3</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Man of Steel</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. ALCOHOL = BAD</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Iron Man 2</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Skyfall</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Not being able to tell what one of the main characters is saying</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Bane, <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - The Asian Businessman, <i>Inception</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i>on second thought, maybe it's just a Christopher Nolan thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Straying from the series' tropes. As when Bruce Wayne says: Sonar? Like a... and Morgan freeman says: submarine, though it would be fun to see A Submarine Man movie. Also not saying "I am Batman". Also Nanananananana Batman!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - <i>Quantum of Solace - "</i>Shaken not Stirred<i>" - </i>also James Bond doesn't have sex with the girl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> - Iron Man 3 - </i>Tony never says "I am Iron Man"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. Not letting Ben Affleck play the hero.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - EVERYONE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Except <i>Dare Devil and Batman/Superman</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THINGS ACTION MOVIES SHOULD HAVE LEARNED:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. How to do the disappearance of a main character properly. Just because we see Tony Stark the whole movie doesn't mean we're going to enjoy not seeing him in the Iron Man suit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The love interest dies. To be replaced with a bad girl. C'mon Pepper Pots out, Black Widow in. Louis Lane out, hot alien chick in, or maybe Wonder Woman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Straying from the goal of world domination to someone who "just wants to watch the world burn."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The resignation of the right hand man/butler.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. This moment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Awesomely subtle Foreshadowing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When Bruce asks Fox how his new suit will protect him against Dogs, Fox says "Should be fine against cats" words he totally eats when Catwoman hands Batman to Bane.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. An upside-down Monologue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Include Morgan Freeman. Though I guess RED learned</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Not really having a happy ending. Though <i>Breaking Bad</i> killed it while <i>Dexter</i> flopped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Thanking Elvis Presley in the credits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Don't harp on the dead loved-one thing for the whole friggin movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Not using the Inception Horns sound.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The line: We need a hero with a face about Harvey Dent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that the joker doesn't hide by wearing a mask, but by not wearing one, when his make-up is off during the assassination of the mayor.</span></div>
Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-1908728635077589412016-08-05T19:44:00.000-07:002019-03-14T13:24:39.303-07:00THEORY: Everyone Knows Bruce Wayne is Batman<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*i'm making this into a video so it's written like one, so that's why it's written like it is</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hey, this is LastVCR, which stands for... You know what I'll save it for after the show. And today I'm going to give you irrefutable proof that everyone in the Dark Knight trilogy knows Bruce Wayne is Batman. Except apparently Commissioner Gordon, cus I mean it's not like he's a detective or like has access to police databases.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurBQ8UcuAjCRmIc3948YUtVTs0Sdw4wOSP5XlogPy7uyknbGJ5vEv7456arNUIhr2ncwoYyF7xp_wPLpHhJk-4d39Th4l3EVdIV6x1oW-xbRsLBNVuOOSghGkymG-XXCogFoAwLPHiAQ/s1600/trilogy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurBQ8UcuAjCRmIc3948YUtVTs0Sdw4wOSP5XlogPy7uyknbGJ5vEv7456arNUIhr2ncwoYyF7xp_wPLpHhJk-4d39Th4l3EVdIV6x1oW-xbRsLBNVuOOSghGkymG-XXCogFoAwLPHiAQ/s400/trilogy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, maybe you've heard this theory somewhere before. But I'm diving deep and providing more proof than I've seen in most outlets. And for these purposes I'm only focusing on the Dark Knight trilogy, or at least as much as is tolerable (shot of Bane and Batman Talking). WHAT?! (another) WHAT?!! (another) seriously this movie may as well have been in sign language.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyways, Let's get started</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 - This one's the most basic, so let's get it out of the way. Bruce Wayne, billionaire of the city, basically a Kennedy of Gotham. Reappears out of nowhere, makes headlines and then, what like 3 months later? Batman, a person with excessively expensive gadgets, <i>also appears</i>. Yeah the people of Gotham figured it out, like the first time both of them were in the headlines together. But you don't just go around embarrassing the Kennedys, especially when they're bankrolling the city like the Waynes have been doing. From building infrastructure, sheltering orphans, to molding elections. The city just keep their collective mouths closed. Who cares that your local billionaire has a leather fetish, cus yeah Gotham may be bad now, but imagine how much worse it'd be without all that great Wayne money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 - REESE ISN'T FROM GOTHAM</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7JyeOd9LmT4j_GKp1-5Hg6IavhOGVAK9kvnud6dp0nhTq11mB7afvCdUwb2xcOMpA-ajefoEkWFzkh7QKNIqbtD8DWrcjuWh0IF_ISv9g353_speLynWe9FHo7yxIv-f7MXGP0V0SPU/s1600/lucious+fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7JyeOd9LmT4j_GKp1-5Hg6IavhOGVAK9kvnud6dp0nhTq11mB7afvCdUwb2xcOMpA-ajefoEkWFzkh7QKNIqbtD8DWrcjuWh0IF_ISv9g353_speLynWe9FHo7yxIv-f7MXGP0V0SPU/s320/lucious+fox.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Morgan Freeman's line sums up this point. (clip: "...and you want to blackmail this person.) It's amazing script writing at its finest, but also, just literally what all of Gotham is thinking. That line isn't super clever to Luscious Fox, it's just common knowledge. Don't fuck with the guy who basically owns the town and knows karate. It's just that Kyle Reese doesn't have any friends, he thinks it's a big secret, cus he's a freelance accountant from out of town that no one has gotten around to telling about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 - JIM GORDON</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7HHbhyphenhyphenaN4bmsknBL3fi29sR1K927u-SJA9rrhWETaMk-43MCIm06k67rYRXZ8VWzqa8lIJMBYkcQNWQFYraMpmJsKexxedDvE2bASkJa1PrmeAgCvdYXqhSd-vKzM9t0uwexLH1zsM/s1600/jim+gordon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7HHbhyphenhyphenaN4bmsknBL3fi29sR1K927u-SJA9rrhWETaMk-43MCIm06k67rYRXZ8VWzqa8lIJMBYkcQNWQFYraMpmJsKexxedDvE2bASkJa1PrmeAgCvdYXqhSd-vKzM9t0uwexLH1zsM/s1600/jim+gordon.jpeg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I take back my first remarks about Jim Gordon. Jim Gordon knows, obviously, and he's just playing surrogate father to a boy he helped once. That whole "It's Mr. Wayne isn't it?" Yeah right Jim! I'm sorry or do you not remember giving Bobby Kennedy your jacket the night his very prolific parents were murdered on your beat. You disgusting liar. And his first response when Bruce <i>hits a police vehicle </i>isn't: oh hey we're going to need your insurance information, because you were just involved in a multi-car collision and I'm a cop, AND I AM A COP. NO! He sucks up to Bruce Wayne, letting him fulfill his little fantasy for a second, like a parent would a child. And tells him to go on his way. Also, and this has no bearing on anything, why is this <i>emergency vehicle</i> stopped at a red light? I mean they've all got their emergency lights on anyway. Just Keep Going!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 - THE BAD GUYS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You know who's always honest? Assholes. Assholes and children. Oh I can't say that? Jerks, I mean jerks and children. And who are the jerks of this world? The "bad guys". And they all know Batman's secret identity. Let's go through the list super fast</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st- Raz Al Ghoul, self-explanitor, trained Batman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd - Scarecrow, I mean, cus he's an employee of Raz. I feel like that'd be pretty crucial information if Scarecrow's going to do his job well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3rd - Joker, duh, he sees that the city is being held ransom by this like, rich asshole, just destroying infrastructure, murdering people, but the citizens and cops just keep sweeping it under the rug. So he's like, oh ok, you want to play this game for real? And he does (exploding hospital). The scene when he burns the money, that's a signal to the people of Gotham: "Hey stop letting money rule your life, I just literally killed every mobster from here to China, you can stop letting Brucebat pretend to be a... a whatever that is, I mean he doesn't actually look like a bat. I mean he's just got pointy ears. I mean he could be a pittbull terrier with those things. Anyways I mean The Joker goes to Bruce's apartment party hoping to find Batman, how could he not. He's like, oh Harvey and Batman will be there, now I have to go. I mean he could have easily found Harvey like, on the way to his car, lot less people there probably.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 - Speaking of Harvey Dent aka Two Face aka Cigarettes are bad. probably exploits Bat Bruce more than anyone. When Bruceman brings up "the masked vigilante" at dinner. Harvey immediately jumps in and supports the Batman. Why? So he can get that sweet rooftop party money. Bruce leans in and is like hey I know I said Batman's crazy, but I like that you like Batman so let me give you like all the money. Harvey's transition to Two-face actually makes more sense that way. It makes more sense that Harvey would kill his way to find Bat Bruce, for dicking up his life in this weird charade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 - Catwoman - of course knows, I mean she's at his apartment, then a party, just like poking the bear, you know. Maybe her real mission was to see if Bruceman was really cripple so Bane could go on with his plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 - Bane - well that's made pretty evident.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8cW-Rh_DtepniplEgrtQjzLrpTRODACMRB5HIPWrt2Gmmi_vQzV9I7oyGP_G9FHzj29Sl-9weow2H3seCF8yvm2_Ro1pLTpyl47hB-6iDKZYSt64gB-We63X1x9j4pbB-3FtwkLuKac/s1600/tali.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8cW-Rh_DtepniplEgrtQjzLrpTRODACMRB5HIPWrt2Gmmi_vQzV9I7oyGP_G9FHzj29Sl-9weow2H3seCF8yvm2_Ro1pLTpyl47hB-6iDKZYSt64gB-We63X1x9j4pbB-3FtwkLuKac/s1600/tali.jpeg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7 - Oh and Talia al'Ghoul... though it still doesn't make any sense that she slept with him. I've never figured that out, I mean I wouldn't sleep with the guy who killed my dad. Even if it was batman. (double check) Yeah, still not. Would not be ok with the killing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in fact the whole trilogy can be explained this way</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 - GOTHAM IS FED UP BY THE THIRD MOVIE</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This scene here where Bane steals all Bruce's money.... somehow. There's no way that transaction would be legal, not in this world, not in no world, no how, ever. Bruce would just call the bank, be like hey, check your cameras, I wasn't even there. Some guy hijacked the place wearing an inhaler </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM6QFAeB-ndUwzrh3cCKpPh2-GdXwP35k-U_B3ElSmD44DsJX-V5eDgUyLCksFwLdacfGF_hqcNKvpzvBk7d9tkPCjzRiCf6L4-G0OWJ98TSkNH0eH1x4np5QHiOyroyxeeZPsogLrdk/s1600/bane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM6QFAeB-ndUwzrh3cCKpPh2-GdXwP35k-U_B3ElSmD44DsJX-V5eDgUyLCksFwLdacfGF_hqcNKvpzvBk7d9tkPCjzRiCf6L4-G0OWJ98TSkNH0eH1x4np5QHiOyroyxeeZPsogLrdk/s320/bane.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that, charges his phone. (clip) Real Thing. And they or his bank, or insurance would return his money. They, the people of Gotham, are sick of BatWayne so they allow the transaction to go through, so that Batman will hopefully stop futzing around with their city. And they make a concerted effort to arrest him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lightning round</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- what's the joker's failsafe? Like if his whole thing is blackmailing people then why doesn't anyone just kill him and keep all this money? Like, hey this guy has a gun. Just shoot the Joker, wouldn't be that hard. I mean if this is what the Joker does with money, those henchmen aren't getting paid. So what's their motive? Did it start out as a fight club/project mayhem thing?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh and MP4, it's just the file format videographers use to export videos. In the future I'll say it means Movie Pessimist or Media Preservers or something. But you'll know it's just a little inside nothing joke.</span>Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-86159784412691942152016-06-02T21:06:00.000-07:002019-03-15T06:55:54.334-07:00ESSAY: Snatch = Pulp Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snatch is a <b>response</b> to Pulp Fiction. It's not a copy, or a remake, or simply taking a similar tone, but a response, a compliment, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the yellow to blue, the drum beat to the guitar, etc</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are similarities; snappy dialogue, a circus of violent yet enticing characters, and a whimsical sort of grit. I say compliment because it works intentionally to fill gaps that Pulp Fiction left blank and explores questions that Pulp Fiction asks. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here let me show you: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Pulp Fiction much of the main action occurs off screen. It plays up small moments like conversations and pooping leading up to the action but leaves out many large action scenes themselves (like Bruce Willis's boxing match or Marsellus Wallace throwing Samoan Joe off a balcony). Snatch, almost beat for beat, makes a point of showing us <i>that</i> action. We see the big boss being a merciless killer, the boxing matches, gruesome torture. villains being villains, and trophies being hunted. It's like a conversation that Ritchie is having with Tarantino, like "hey I love your style, but what would we learn by doing this instead?"</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1- The Characters</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's start at the top of the food chain in both worlds. We have Marsellus Wallace in Pulp and Brick Top in Snatch. Both of course play the role of the intimidating, incredibly violent mob bosses that everyone fears and works for. "Sure, but there aren't there tons of movies with crime bosses?" you might say, "well, none done quite like this".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's start with that gap we mentioned, the gap Tarantino leaves open and Ritchie fills in, what does Marsellus Wallace <i>not do</i>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout Pulp Fiction characters allude to the violent acts Marsellus Wallace has committed either himself (throwing Tony Rockyhorror out a 3 story window). Or violent acts he's getting others to do such as torturing Bruce Willis' manager or "taking a blowtorch and a pair of pliers to this motherfucker right here". All we ever really see of his brutality is him accidentally shooting some lady in the leg and very intentionally shooting Zed in the dick, both are pretty brief and neither incident seems to say: I'm a heartlessly brutal motherfucker. Wallace is a man wrapped around myth to the viewer, we imagine his acts the same way we imagine the monster in a slasher flick before finally getting a good look at it. Zed's imminent torture is more terrifying in our imaginations than we ever get shown. So Ritchie thinks to himself, "that's cool! But how do you <i>show </i>a<i> </i>heartless, brutal gangster and still make them intimidating?"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNiovlAzgYnhcYDpdX4W8m5-_wxRyhPrDHf1tZiCf98HNc7pOVmNvUEeoEwrIwf3DxIYVBaKrFE9rMJKRyU2wSCfPQ2bA9J8VEAaKKVGmLKbfQE2btG9g2uP6ML2KFWcmdtbsIcUBNMs/s1600/Brick+Top+Mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNiovlAzgYnhcYDpdX4W8m5-_wxRyhPrDHf1tZiCf98HNc7pOVmNvUEeoEwrIwf3DxIYVBaKrFE9rMJKRyU2wSCfPQ2bA9J8VEAaKKVGmLKbfQE2btG9g2uP6ML2KFWcmdtbsIcUBNMs/s320/Brick+Top+Mirror.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH5lQ7QzOe2MWJ0AwPfF10A6EHA0hixXsZWvafglhYVXsh0LnW0AHCS9WMn5CTeg_lS3VFQSGfv67hztLiKzLW5_whax0a5fP08kPtIVjJDVEdsrrGVeDrZ0empkWEoTQyk3m6y_YdF4/s1600/Marsellus-Wallace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH5lQ7QzOe2MWJ0AwPfF10A6EHA0hixXsZWvafglhYVXsh0LnW0AHCS9WMn5CTeg_lS3VFQSGfv67hztLiKzLW5_whax0a5fP08kPtIVjJDVEdsrrGVeDrZ0empkWEoTQyk3m6y_YdF4/s320/Marsellus-Wallace.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's where we get Brick Top. The entire movie revolves around everyone tiptoeing around this scary and violent psychopath. But we witness all the terrible shit he does. Turkish's opening monologue about Brick Top feeding people to pigs? That's literally the next scene. And not only do we just see him feeding pigs but we see the reaction of these horrors in the faces of the two mammoth boxers witnessing the murder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And every scene after Brick Top is more violent and ruthless than the last. In the commentary Guy Richie was talking to someone about how to make Brick Top as unlikable as possible and that person told him: people hate people that torture dogs more than anything. So that's exactly what we see. So that when he barbecues Brad Pitt's mom, we know for sure he did it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the parallels continue with many characters, but like, I mean, there's a lot of characters, in <i>both</i> movies, so... moving on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2 - The McGuffin </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another instance of Ritchie's response is the rigged boxing matches that are undermined by the boxers. Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction, Brad Pitt in Snatch. And you've probably figured out the theme here. Pulp Fiction boxing = completely off screen, we only hear details in a taxicab as Bruce reminisces with some French cabbie over cigarettes. While Snatch makes huge set pieces from the boxing matches, where we feel the tension in all characters involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it goes on from there, from shootouts, to heists, chases, oh and the valuables everyone's chasing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>3 - The Valuable </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most memorable prop in Pulp Fiction of course is a light bulb inside a brief case. We, the audience, give the case value because the characters give it value. They murder people over it like, like all day. Quick aside, did you notice that we see Travolta and Jackson firing their weapons but we really don't see the bullets going into their victims except that Jerry Seinfeld looking mother fucker. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Snatch, on the other hand, the opening scene is all about attaining and introducing a giant-fuck-off-diamond, the EXTREMELY VISIBLE center-piece that will drive the plot of half the movie. And that people toss around, shoot each other over, chase, cut off limbs, you saw the movie, you get it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4 - Scenes and Pacing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can compare this to more than just characters and plots. Whole scenes and themes are total throwbacks and comments on to Pulp Fiction. To test this I played the Pulp Fiction Soundtrack while watching Snatch on mute and a lot of scenes match up rather well. You start when Freddy Four Fingers whips out the guns, start up Misserlou, skip the dialogue parts in the Pulp Fiction soundtrack and it's pretty funny what lines up. I've outlined some examples that worked here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SNATCH / PULP FICTION </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1- Heist Scene / Robbery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2- Meet a likable duo with great dialogue back and forth as they set out to do a job that will inevitably bring about their final scene</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3- Meet the Mob Boss (Wallace talking to Bruce Willis with an opening monologue and Brick Top talking having his employees suffocated)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 - etc. - some parts match up some don't but the overall gist is really the flow of the movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The opening credits in both movies rolls in high-octane crazy music. But while Pulp Fiction has a blank screen with text on it, Snatch has a fun, wild cartoonish opening with hilarious violence. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5 - The Car Crash</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shot by shot car crash including, drum roll - the trunk shot. For my money this scene is Guy Ritchie's clearest wink to Tarantino.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1- the cars wreck, fade to black.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2- the characters come to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3- A bunch of people, no, not just people, a bunch of women, which have seriously been absent aside from Mia Wallace and Mickey's mom, are suddenly surrounding the parties involved in the wreck as they come to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4- And most importantly is THE TRUNK SHOT (known as the Tarantino shot), which makes me think it is a direct and deliberate response to Pulp Fiction. The wink here is equally clever. In a Tarantino film we'd be expecting to see one of the gangsters looking down into the trunk. Instead, in Snatch, we see no one looking into the trunk, defying our expectation. And telling us that Boris has left the trunk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6 - A Hero</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have archetypal heroes in both movies, and while they have scenes where they take center stage, the entirety of the movie does not hinge on their decisions. Butch is the archetype of the American hero, Butch is a strong, but struggling middle class, boxer descended from war veterans, who has what it takes to stick it to the man. Turkish is a well-informed, quick-witted Brit who always comes out on top in banter, even if he is losing the scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>7 - Shepard the Weak</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The weak are separated from the strong which seems like something you could say a lot of movies, but these do it in a very unique way. Each party in each situation has power, power that changes hands through the course of the scenes. In Pulp Fiction we see Jules (Samuel Jackson's character) go from neutral, exchanging rhetoric w/ John Travolta - to powerful when he commands the room where they shoot everyone - to being at the mercy of Jimmy (Tarantino's character) and Mr. Wolf (Harvey Keitel's character) when they try to get rid of the body - then back on top in the bar scene finale. And you can see this change of power with every character in Pulp Fiction from Mia Wallace to Marsellus Wallace. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GI72F3jmbaCzIbVWXZYXVjcVVdA_pKvUvyWoCD8o4NjxZcw-p3LZSk18iJebQ9Q9m6gbxe3d_spXeb2_iwGVdk3VjY-Cjpdko1JSIy2vifGw29lDSHozmu9p6SodXiNKnrbWLWadbt8/s1600/Samuel-L-Jackson-578x343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GI72F3jmbaCzIbVWXZYXVjcVVdA_pKvUvyWoCD8o4NjxZcw-p3LZSk18iJebQ9Q9m6gbxe3d_spXeb2_iwGVdk3VjY-Cjpdko1JSIy2vifGw29lDSHozmu9p6SodXiNKnrbWLWadbt8/s320/Samuel-L-Jackson-578x343.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPND-j4yV4u_yH5ZD6so-sx8TOr3m-OHtqpLD1vYuLEQGTSUXNTCd8eoxFlyB9BuVlwvcB7AyNP__I41_WQA943Gd77kJ-LF9X-T1pNtAo35HdCVaB1Aiep2SHUZvdf5DfFnX4W3nMIRI/s1600/c83116b218d59eb06f74dc7b02260b55-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPND-j4yV4u_yH5ZD6so-sx8TOr3m-OHtqpLD1vYuLEQGTSUXNTCd8eoxFlyB9BuVlwvcB7AyNP__I41_WQA943Gd77kJ-LF9X-T1pNtAo35HdCVaB1Aiep2SHUZvdf5DfFnX4W3nMIRI/s320/c83116b218d59eb06f74dc7b02260b55-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Snatch has the same dynamics, especially as the diamond switches hands between the Americans, the Russians, and the Pawn Shop owners, wait is this some kind of Cold war- nevermind. In most typical Hollywood movies, sure the main character gets captured, or goes through some mediocre played out "trial" but in these movies the shift of power occurs between characters simply interacting. Show me a movie where Kurt Russel has to pander and beg a whiney asshole about some coffee or Stalone gets kidnapped in a pawn shop and - ahem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And these movies make a point of weeding out the <i>truly weak </i>from the <i>truly strong</i>. At the beginning of Pulp Fiction we may think the restaurant robbers are cool and maybe even badass on first viewing but by the end we see they're nothing compared to real strong people like Jules. And in Snatch we see the same dynamics play out in a restaurant. In a what? A restaurant? HE SAID WHAT?! A FUCKING RESTAURANT. As we see Bullet Tooth Tony completely show up three dudes trying to rob him of his brief case as he casually sips his drink, holding his piece. OH SHNAP! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is that it? Yeah I think that covers it. If you have your own opinions or things you think shoulda made it on the list, I don't care, I mean I'll read them, but I'm gonna just say I don't care because... well I mean someone's gonna try to be hurtful, I just, I just know it. </span></div>
Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-25866957931125996142016-02-02T18:51:00.001-08:002019-03-14T13:04:35.289-07:00THEORY: Parks and Rec is in Ann Perkins' head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ANN PERKINS IS DEPRESSED</div>
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Parks and Rec is a heart-felt show inexplicably revolving around Politics in America, particularly one politician, Leslie Knope. Knope's rise through the ranks in American government is followed by her close friends and coworkers, whom she motivates to succeed along the way. Except for one person, Ann Perkins: beautiful, helpful, positive, confused Ann Perkins who never really does succeed or advance except in one aspect, that she becomes a happier, more stable person. Why is that? Because Ann is the only real person in this show and everyone else is totally imagined. Let's inspect Ann's life, alone, away from the Parks and Rec squad. Ann is:<br />
1- A lonely nurse in a small town who can't advance in her field and doesn't have the will to move to a larger city.<br />
2- Ann can't land a date b/c she's awkward around people<br />
3- When she does date she mimics her bf's behavior b/c she lacks self-respect or identity<br />
4- She isn't respected by any of her peers except Leslie and Chris.<br />
5- Finally, there's a whole episode where she throws a halloween party which fails miserably, and the kicker is that she knows it's going to fail before anyone even arrives.<br />
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Point being, Alone Ann would be a great character on Girls. And I believe she's a lonely, depressed woman who has created this show in her mind as a fiction to inspire her to be happier and more successful, with the figurehead being Leslie Knope.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0yR1_E_iaeb1tGphl1TfzZ_-bomXDO0uiwvUgJ7VwhIAcDkLbPkwbiz0SvGMQL7E6ZnvtLa8hXI2j2ATX-eeoOdiKhDSJVWsmFVuKFhSqooxkzcbLvVe_j6k9WUfQ-uWgm8yIsPmbK0/s1600/enhanced-buzz-2483-1372287434-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0yR1_E_iaeb1tGphl1TfzZ_-bomXDO0uiwvUgJ7VwhIAcDkLbPkwbiz0SvGMQL7E6ZnvtLa8hXI2j2ATX-eeoOdiKhDSJVWsmFVuKFhSqooxkzcbLvVe_j6k9WUfQ-uWgm8yIsPmbK0/s320/enhanced-buzz-2483-1372287434-8.jpg" width="320" /></a>So this whole idea started when I was thinking about April and Andy. April and Andy's personalities are clearly based on pets. Andy is a dog: unwaveringly loyal, energetically positive, and ridiculously impulsive. April is a cat: aloof, distant, independent, and just messes with your stuff for no reason. Both of their names start with "<b>A</b>, just like <b>"Ann"</b>, which is exactly what a sad spinster might to do her pets. And guess who'd marry their pets? Oh old spinsters, because Andy and April get married before any other couple in the show despite being the youngest people there.<br />
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Now the step before you marry your pets is to start writing fiction to pass the time and fantasize about what life could have been if you weren't a depressed nurse cleaning peoples' butts for days on end. Leslie is Ann's alter ego, her Superwoman if Ann was a sad Clark Kent. Ann imagines stories of Leslie's rise to success to distract from own life as a lackey nurse tasked with cleaning bed pans and giving sponge baths.*<br />
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Ann imagines fun stories about Leslie, a spunky, strong, successful woman who'll eventually become president. Leslie's hilariously funny antics are distractions from Ann's own morose reality. Leslie even ends up taking Ann away from her post at the hospital and giving her a nice new job in city hall. A job Ann is clearly unqualified for. A job that allows Ann to be around the group of (fictional) friends she has been fantasizing about. Closing the loop of crazy by finally living and working with her imaginary friends.<br />
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Proof also lies in the only two people she's close to, Leslie and Chris, who are absurd optimists, even by absurdly optimistic peoples' standards. They constantly compliment Ann the way that a life coach or a much needed internal voice might do. Leslie constantly complimenting Ann's beauty and Chris' "Ann Perkins!", etc. constantly assure her that she's a wonderful human being as everyone else puts her down. These people are actually just the voices in Ann's head combating her own depression. When she's putting herself down or ending another toxic relationship she imagines Leslie or Chris showing up with a assuring words on how beautiful and smart Ann is.<br />
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I think the most interesting character in this scenario is Chris. Chris is what Ann imagines happy people are like, effortlessly joyful, healthy, and optimistic. It's a depressed person's view of "normal" people, people unburdened by the chronic sadness that a depressed person must struggle with every day.<br />
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Let's look at Chris and Ann's relationship arc.<i> When Chris is first introduced he is perceived by her and the audience as a wonderful, positive person and she dates him.</i> While dating Ann works on being healthier and happier briefly, the way someone might do for a new years resolution. Then Chris breaks up with her without her even realizing it. In this scenario the breakup is her subconsciously giving up on becoming the unachievably optimistic person she has been straining to be. After that Chris devolves into an ironically enthusiastic caricature, as she now sees optimism as a foreign, ridiculous culture to be mocked. "I mean happy people must be faking it, right? No one could be as happy as these people seem," she says to herself, sipping on $5 wine alone in the shower with her dog Andy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVg_IjvV70WzFm-xeQwYeKDSsx1S1-yP6keXwLsfenPijY2E32HT5CKUpLUaAtDinO3akmfS0xZE176vQWAV1pLjwvhb9ZAwCIax0angGjz-XZIac3OiFiPl0VTVgw5iU4MaLkfYZCRA/s1600/chris.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVg_IjvV70WzFm-xeQwYeKDSsx1S1-yP6keXwLsfenPijY2E32HT5CKUpLUaAtDinO3akmfS0xZE176vQWAV1pLjwvhb9ZAwCIax0angGjz-XZIac3OiFiPl0VTVgw5iU4MaLkfYZCRA/s320/chris.gif" width="320" /></a>Yet Chris lingers, despite the opportunity to be<br />
sent away (in the episode where he is supposed to go back to Indianapolis). This is because Ann realizes this goal and character are silly but that she should strive to be happier anyways. Soon after Chris realizes that to become truly happy he needs to go to therapy. This is Ann's intervention with herself, when she gives in and begins going to therapy. Therapy is tough and uncovering a lot of deep emotions (as we see Chris is now always crying). It's rough, so to cope Ann makes Leslie's stories become even brighter. Leslie falls in love, gets a great house, gets married, even Lil' Sebastian comes back.<br />
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To complete Ann's arc, the rest of the series around the fifth season is about Ann accepting her own level of joy and her position in life. She explicitly says this in multiple episodes. She is finally ok with being herself and single, she doesn't need a man in her life to be happy or define her. She sells all her old boyfriend's stuff in her "phases" in the auction episode. She also gets closer to April and Ron, which I see as her finally making friends in real life like she's been trying to do for so long.<br />
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Oh and what happens next? When Chris finishes his therapy and bounces back from his depression Ann and him inexplicably move and leave the Parks and Rec squad behind. Ann leaves, all this time on the show and she just dip sets while doing what she wants for herself, arm in arm with her imaginary life coach. If we see this from Ann's perspective this is her happy ending, she leaves her fantasy and imaginary friends behind in search of a real, more fulfilling life in a new city. This is the equivalent of Ed Norton shooting himself to get rid of Tyler Durden in fight club.<br />
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I could go on about how Ron is her father figure, constantly supplying wisdom and tough love, but always disappointed and distant. Tom and Donna are her online presence, spunky, confident, up to date on culture but ultimately shallow. Tom always posing as more successful and happy than he actually is, while continually destroying his relationships once his partner realizes that his confidence is a facade (much like an online dating profile). And no one cares about Jerry Larry Terry Gurgich, he's probably just GIFs on Reddit that she sees of someone being lit on fire.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I just want to take a second to say I think nurses should be paid more than politicians, they deal with us at our worst and spend more time with you than your doctor ever will. My nurse friends are some of the most giving and selfless people I've ever known. I'm writing this from the perspective of a depressed person who happens to be a nurse but is unsatisfied with her job.</span>Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-22994999993164410512015-11-24T17:31:00.002-08:002019-03-14T13:24:59.107-07:00REVIEW: Jessica Jones<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JESSICA JONES REVIEW</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Quick Preface: I am a white male. My comments on how well this show approaches women's experiences is completely from the point of view of a man assessing a story-telling technique and conversations with female friends. Any "*" is to note this</span></span><br />
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<b>QUICK SYNAPSIS </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those of us that aren't a lonely robot on Mars, you've noticed Marvel has been creating a giant universe of superheroes in film and TV. These heroes are made to be in crossovers until Marvel either earns enough money to become a sovereign nation or the interest in superhero movies peters out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jessica Jones was released on Netflix as a dark, gritty series that addresses topics that her movie counterparts can't, or won't, whichever. Netflix's medium has allowed Jessica Jones more freedom than to explore more hard-hitting realism like Orange is the New Black, etc. Most importantly Netflix has allowed the show to be confrontational about social issues in an time when movies are glib remakes with no conscious to advance social issues.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Overall I give Jessica Jones a 4.5 out of 5.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OVERALL: NO SPOILERS</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The show is solid, invigorating, nail biting and had very well-rounded characters while doing a good job balancing story lines. It starts out slow and sometimes flat. The first few episodes' side quests don't have much payoff but I advise you to stick it out until... well I'll just say after episode 5 b/c I don't want to spoil anything. I thought of this as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo watered down for a PG-13 audience, but after (unnamed episode) I absolutely couldn't stop watching and it paid off in big ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jessica Jones remains the hardest and most earnest attempt at a grounded, realistic hero that Marvel has come out with. She doesn't wear a cape, not even a mask, she wears her street clothes. Her power is her incredible strength, but really it's how she uses her wit and tenacity to use that strength effectively.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*The show discusses several issues women have to deal with in a mans' world while representing the women responsibly. Issues like crazy ex-boyfriends, violent assault, mixed feelings in relationships, etc. I say responsibly because I never got the sense the creator/writers were approaching any scenario with the intent evoke sympathy with our female protagonists. Rather the creators show the womens' internal struggle and their ability to find strength when they choose to act.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OVERALL 2: SPOILERS EDITION</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those issues I discuss in the last paragraph of crazy ex as Killgrave stalking her, idealizing her, and harassing her, making it hard for her every day. *But of course he's not just a crazy ex, he's her rapist, and his invasive photographing of her seems like the voyeurism women deal with walking down the street from passing men. The repercussions of Killgrave's forced relationship on her I think speaks to the experience of rape. It makes it difficult to have future relationships, as Killgrave's actions directly interfere with her relationship with Luke Cage. As well as other analogies I saw in the show, but as I said, I'm not really in a position to postulate. I will say for the sake of discussion that I think Simpson was a character made to represent abusive relationships. He forces his way into her home after worming his way into her favor so many times. It seems fitting for the theme, as Jessica fights against her rapist, so Trish learns to fight against her abuser.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">S</span><span style="text-align: left;">o that unnamed episode that hooked mewas episode eight. From there I was hooked, really hooked. The scenes were intensely suspenseful. Many scenes, especially the bar scene with Hope made me feel very real terror. The way they go about executing characters kept me on my toes throughout the show. I was so scared any time the junkie was in a scene that Killgrave was going to round a corner and kill him. And was so relieved he never did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Episode eight is pretty far down the line though, I was pretty nonplus with much of the series until she got Killgrave to save those people and taste the idea of being a hero. But fifteen minutes later she poisons and imprisons him. While it was satisfying to see her finally get the upper hand, I really wish they had filled some of those first seven episodes with more stories of them being a heroic duo. I'd have liked longer time to try and sympathize with that monster, maybe even see him start to change for a bit, earn some redemption. Do that for like 3 episodes then boom she kidnaps him out of the blue. This could have brought a new arc and personality to him, filled up duller episodes and really been rewarding and surprising when JJ kidnaps him.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ACTING</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm about to make the BEST/WORST list but one thing that I really wanted to address that was well done, but just on the cusp of making the show a 5 star was the acting. Both of the actors do a good job, but it isn't great. They excel in their characters' attributes, but both Krysten and David failed to really follow through and be visceral and vulnerable.</span><br />
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Krysten Ritter does a good job, she's quick, sassy, steadfast but conflicted. I fully believed her intelligence, her skills, her ire. That said, one thing that irked me though is she didn't seem to allow much vulnerability, any true emotions well up. She cries sometimes, she punches windows, but Krysten always aired on the side of cool. This is fine, like Blade Runner but even in Blade Runner you see Harrison Ford get truly scared, etc. Krysten's portrayal of JJ comes off as more having a chip on her shoulder than the poisoned, visceral person she could have been.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's the same with David Tennant. Tennant portrays the wonderful copulation of a charismatic villain is also very frightening. But it seems neither actors felt like really delving into being someone vulnerably disturbed, one of the main tenants of a great actor/actress is vulnerability, but it seems they both play their roles too safely to be truly relatable, reviling, scared or brave.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BEST</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- One of the best things is the show's intensity. The build up pays off and certain scenes are gripping in a very physical way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- The Characters: This show really takes care to make great characters and you're never lacking when one or the other is on screen, even the most minor characters like the junkie or the crazy neighbor. Tertiary characters swing your opinions of them and influence the plot in huge ways while never placing judgement to if someone is truly good or truly evil. You even get a glimpse at sympathising with Killgrave, though short-lived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> - The absolute greatest thing about the show is its subject matter and the way that it approaches social issues. The approach to this subject is so incredibly relevant and yet widely ignored that to see such clear metaphors about different aspects is encouraging. And for her to call him out as a rapist on TV I feel is a huge step in the progress for a public dialogue as so many women choose to keep their experiences secret.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even Sergent Simpson seems to be a metaphor for women who endure domestic abuse. Simpson attacks Trish twice and she still accepts him back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- The inclusion of gay characters without calling attention to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Rosario Dawson tie in, nuf said</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GRIPES</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Biggest one is the action. They have so many powerful characters from Jones to Cage to Simpson, yet none of the fight scenes <i>feel</i> powerful, yes people fly far and break walls but it doesn't feel powerful. The choreography seems lazy and the execution by the actors/stuntmen is flat, it looks closer to Shatner in Star Trek than to Dare Devil in a very bad way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- In hand with the action are the visual effects, they just seem lazy, the same kind of blurry jumps and cuts we saw 10 years ago in Heroes. Any time Jones jumped high or Cage threw someone the effects were so bad it just took me right out of the reality of the show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- The soundtrack. It's like there wasn't one. There was no theme music for Jessica or Killgrave or anything really. It was like they just bought a generic soundtrack somewhere and placed it around the show. And one of my problems with the action was how disconnected from the soundtrack it was. There were fight scenes with no soundtrack whatsoever, which works in film/tv when you earn it or fill the gap with visuals and soundeffects in an effective way, but this show did not do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I actually believed the younger Jessica Jones than Krysten Ritters. Am I the only one?</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CONCLUSION</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'd rather watch a TV show with gripping narrative, characters and relevant subject matter than any movie with great action while lacking in any of the aforementioned. The respectful way they portrayed the characters and subject matter is really what brought this from a 4 star to 4.5 when I was reflecting. It is definitely a must-see.</span><br />
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<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-71718919359185351642015-05-15T15:07:00.000-07:002019-03-14T13:25:28.210-07:00THEORY: Why Donnie Darko is About a Total Asshole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donnie Darko has a lot going on: alternate dimensions, time travel, psychology, a coming of age story. And yeah it's a cool 80's movie packed with interesting thought experiments. But if you think the premise is about Donnie Darko, the martyr who sacrifices himself, you may want to reexamine that. <strong><em>Because it's really about how Frank (the guy in the bunny suit) a total asshole</em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right, so as you might remember Frank was the giant goth bunny who took some bad Mali. But really he was a dude who made this terrifying costume. But I guess if you're about to enter another dimension after getting shot in the eye, you'll need some appropriate attire. And that's the point. See, Donnie's girlfriend, Gretchen, also dies at the end of the movie but she doesn't get the luxury of reincarnating herself in her Halloween outfit. Nope she's just dead, donezo, gone, otherwise you think she'd drop in and say hey to Donnie in his hallucinations the way Frank does. Instead she just you know, stays dead like a normal person.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QX5TSFKLnI3QpTK3jHuEL73woh8EwKIjCnJb72NDEdNBduBM8n9X6Jmh1Ytqfft617O1ojhX0S6yAxXLyv_wmxA2gvn2R-uXUgSK6XyHohv2DzY_Z3s63sS3fUPHfdssSEL_67dSlYU/s1600/1366053028_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QX5TSFKLnI3QpTK3jHuEL73woh8EwKIjCnJb72NDEdNBduBM8n9X6Jmh1Ytqfft617O1ojhX0S6yAxXLyv_wmxA2gvn2R-uXUgSK6XyHohv2DzY_Z3s63sS3fUPHfdssSEL_67dSlYU/s320/1366053028_l.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah you hear me Frank, you're a dick</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But Frank is given the gift of this ethereal afterlife where he gets to visit people in hallucinations and dreams. Does he go visit his mom or girlfriend or whoever with reassuring comforting words though? I mean maybe, but it's unlikely, cus he's a total fucking asshole. Instead he haunts the dreams of his killer, Donnie and inevitably trades Donnie's life for his so he can live again. He's enacting revenge by ruining Donnie's life and then taking his life away.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 1</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what's the first step of a sociopathic, alcoholic (I'll get to that) ghost hellbent on revenge? Make your killer think he's going crazy. He's apparently been tormenting Donnie long before October 2nd (the opening of the movie) He's got Donnie feeling crazy, waking up weird places, stabbing mirrors and having to take pills, and seeing a shrink like he's gonna go postal at any minute. And Frank's giving Donnie Insomnia and wiling out, waking up random places.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 2</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deteriorate Donnie's relationship with his family. I mean Donnie's so frustrated about the whole situation he calls his mom a bitch, fights with his sister, his dad's obviously concerned in that stoic fatherly-kinda way.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 3</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLch_yclsyOZW7ga-bJkmBNV2G3JrCBr6uoXRc3e5QTe7aacvUx6VC0MeA5lPOnnhoRM8Vh-mnEHt5lNdlBuKbzX133X1qVwZEOoCHHOV9PAwYc9SjE7kjiBZYcypjwQ5hz44riyu6SA/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLch_yclsyOZW7ga-bJkmBNV2G3JrCBr6uoXRc3e5QTe7aacvUx6VC0MeA5lPOnnhoRM8Vh-mnEHt5lNdlBuKbzX133X1qVwZEOoCHHOV9PAwYc9SjE7kjiBZYcypjwQ5hz44riyu6SA/s1600/imgres.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Get Donnie in trouble. He keeps hypnotizing Donnie to play pranks around town. First Frank plays a prank on Donnie, tells him the world will end, "lolol, he's gonna freak about that" Frank says, sharpying the number on Donnie's arm like he's a drunk frat kid and stranding him on a golf course. Then on to destroy the school so he can Ferris Beuller his way home and be hounded by the police. And finally burn someones' house down. Yeah the dude happened to be a pedo, but there's nothing to indicate Frank knew that at the time. He's just trying to get Donnie in trouble, have the police hot on his tail when he burns down the house of the biggest celebrity in the county. He wants Donnie to get in trouble. He even shows up at the Psychiatrist's office so when Donnie gets caught, she'll be like, yeah dude was crazy.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 4</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kill Donnie so Frank can live. If Frank can bounce around and go visit Donnie, why doesn't he go bounce around and visit himself and be like: "hey you know that road? Don't drive on it for like, a month or you're gonna kill someone. Or if we're under the assumption that Donnie's the only one he can visit because... portals? I guess. Then his only job should really be: "Oh hey, you know that old woman's house, just don't go there on Halloween. Cool thanks, we're all alive now." No instead he's just spouting ambiguous, terrifying shit, hypnotizing Donnie and freaking him out. Frank is psychologically torturing Donnie literally for the last days of Donnie's shortened life. Then finally bringing the hatchet down by putting Donnie in the path of the plane engine at the end. But I guess the "Hi, don't go there" scenario would make for a pretty terrible movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At first I thought, well this is a fun fan theory, just a shift in perspective that's amusing and maybe you'll watch the movie differently. But when I was wrapping up I thought: do we have any evidence that he was a dick? Well the answer is yeah, yeah we do.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU4S55MmFzvUTnwnfyXv30I-paoyBBO1Dbay4Qgdv4ylcsJak5GOuKDY7_FAk5HAvES-Af5nwYssVCxrtTQaDv7l0C9aCqrcrQlCz76mZgfY74M_KMrgq7BLgrGQ4y54XB1UALt1wGQI/s1600/ba16203d61989a9244f2ae0074c7c7a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU4S55MmFzvUTnwnfyXv30I-paoyBBO1Dbay4Qgdv4ylcsJak5GOuKDY7_FAk5HAvES-Af5nwYssVCxrtTQaDv7l0C9aCqrcrQlCz76mZgfY74M_KMrgq7BLgrGQ4y54XB1UALt1wGQI/s320/ba16203d61989a9244f2ae0074c7c7a4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah, that is not a sober person's handwriting</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remember that note on the fridge left by Maggie Gyllanhall for Frank to get the beer? Yeah, you don't ask the straight-laced dummie to do that shit, you ask the guy who's gonna be drinking so much that he's probably gonna take the keg home afterward and use it through the weekend. You send the straight-laced kid and he's gonna come back with some shitty Natty Light or worse. And that kinda guy definitely pre-games for parties. So he's driving fast and drunk down this winding back road and runs over Donnie's girlfriend, dick move. Also it'd kinda explain why he's so crazy in the afterlife, he's gone Jack in the Shining, he's sober in the afterlife going through withdrawals, he's gonna be an angry dick, like your friend trying to quit cigarettes. And also we know he's Native American, not saying I think they're alcoholics, no just saying Hollywood loves stereotypes and that's one of them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aB1ZZd7OnHGgP3RA7BZteXVwN31ZzEDSuzDlNfcaPwNGBYLf8_cBTKTUxMnDTBbAMPjAbbt2VmAjoiL2knV2QQNJdEyaz2pBXgMuZshb6oEXea8fVQil_VuXR9T77mN8VChrfpI4rGM/s1600/donnie-darko-movie-image-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aB1ZZd7OnHGgP3RA7BZteXVwN31ZzEDSuzDlNfcaPwNGBYLf8_cBTKTUxMnDTBbAMPjAbbt2VmAjoiL2knV2QQNJdEyaz2pBXgMuZshb6oEXea8fVQil_VuXR9T77mN8VChrfpI4rGM/s320/donnie-darko-movie-image-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Frank totally could have prevented this. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ok sure maybe I'm reaching and he has a normal, healthy taste for alcohol. So do I still think he's a douchebag? Yes, even his reaction when he gets out of the car spells it out. Does he apologize, does he run to her to see if she's ok? Does he give her CPR? No! His gut reaction is to just start blaming the whole thing on Gretchen. "What's she doing in the road," he says without a second's hesitation, casting the blame before anyone can question whether he's at fault or a little intoxicated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And of course Donnie shoots him, Frank's ruined his life, tortured him and now killed the girl he just lost his virginity to. So if Frank weren't a dick, Donnie would 1. Have a healthy relationship with his family 2. They'd all still be alive, yes even Donnie b/c remember the jet gets sent through a portal, it hasn't actually come off a plane so guess who did that 3. They all could have had decent normal lives and that awful woman who's in charge of the dance squad would have been on the plane that lost the engine.</span><br />
<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-31155018508075408892014-10-17T22:14:00.000-07:002019-03-17T07:51:42.428-07:00FLUFF: 5 Crossovers That NEED to Happen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEHYZbn6MQGwRYryoF91Ad3tslMjQQozBNOcoO9zOW95gdoK1xev1hZKkuSoYwT_GaVJORnn1vE3glmLLiLO-mLRipyL3zDalHBIq1_4EtDWYq83Kuk0ZFd8G1_qzZZ-9GaeJP5-jrv0/s1600/star+fighters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEHYZbn6MQGwRYryoF91Ad3tslMjQQozBNOcoO9zOW95gdoK1xev1hZKkuSoYwT_GaVJORnn1vE3glmLLiLO-mLRipyL3zDalHBIq1_4EtDWYq83Kuk0ZFd8G1_qzZZ-9GaeJP5-jrv0/s1600/star+fighters.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hollywood is moving away from the sequel as the sign of success/profitability and into the format of the movie universe. This will bring amazing crossovers. The kind of crossovers geeks have been acting out with action figures for years. While we'll probably never see Venom fight Batman or <span style="color: blue;">Han Solo duke it out with Malcolm Reynolds, the MCU/Star Wars/DC universes are showing off some amazing line-ups</span>. Yet some of fantasies are looking more like a reality: Batman vs. Superman, the Hulkbuster Suit, Guardians Crossing over with the Avengers. This sets the stage for fan boys everywhere to make wild speculations about who will win what fight, and who could be appearing in what movie next. These megalomaniac studios even know what they want to make a decade down the line.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcnBbzEr-sxRivJwC64mMDO92U1Fg-BVDuTkY4QfB66g1Csy2muJvrRH61wAIIh6aFFQyxGJXXKi2yIWs-G6bS6vfCiPT8seA73gDkfzvLK8-EwLZ-704qZpjpXPq7c9OX_DFoyWkCnY/s1600/spandex-wars-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcnBbzEr-sxRivJwC64mMDO92U1Fg-BVDuTkY4QfB66g1Csy2muJvrRH61wAIIh6aFFQyxGJXXKi2yIWs-G6bS6vfCiPT8seA73gDkfzvLK8-EwLZ-704qZpjpXPq7c9OX_DFoyWkCnY/s1600/spandex-wars-2.jpg" width="371" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But reasonable speculations are boringgggggggggggggg, we can see these crossovers from miles away. This blog isn't about those, this is about the crossovers we NEED to see, and the ridiculous reasons behind the idea. So here's a list of movie crossovers and universes that absolutely need to happen. As a warning, this list is created solely to torment you with wonderful, impossible movie concepts that will stick in your head worse than "<i>Ice Ice Baby</i>".</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Godzilla vs X-Men</span></u></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWijDSI3HCjjSIF-BF8qBKXRNSjSKKuDUEnPpJy8PXV-j9sbby-l7jMuYsLNcfMR6VdUr7BRcnCOkJVib-3B1RlLRi1lo23JcnS7zbY_6QNNDzgmiuO5bp_8du6KbZnrjT-lsIRozCBQ/s1600/Godzilla-VS-Xmen-600x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWijDSI3HCjjSIF-BF8qBKXRNSjSKKuDUEnPpJy8PXV-j9sbby-l7jMuYsLNcfMR6VdUr7BRcnCOkJVib-3B1RlLRi1lo23JcnS7zbY_6QNNDzgmiuO5bp_8du6KbZnrjT-lsIRozCBQ/s1600/Godzilla-VS-Xmen-600x350.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rally all the X-Men: Magneto, Storm, everyone in the franchise. We round 'em up, they all track down and fight Godzilla in huge battles. The X-men keep failing, one by one getting picked off, until a huge battle with the Main 4, The Professor, Wolverine, Blue Tits, and Magnet Man. And then they all die, die for real this time, no more going into the past and reviving characters, they die, all of them for good. Then we wait 5 years and reboot the franchise with a <b><i>Good</i></b> director (looking at you Singer) and maybe we'll get a good movie Because even the most die-hard fan knows that aside from the amazing scene with the Quicksilver the best part of <i>Days of Future Past</i> was when Storm got straight up impaled and you thought you wouldn't have to see Halle Barry half-ass her way through one more of these scripts. If you didn't, you should look at the terrible things she did to get more lines in X-men 3.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNWssyNux7655-be-C4i8ewGKZI7XCTND-Ukx0IqUcePTLddHWFHAY-shXVlpEBPD5FhYT0K_AWCVM64FrcpHemJVDIoTBFLvbYoGkW2q5QzmFskJ0hGglfH1z3YOXeRlGGq01BJKjtY/s1600/She+dies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNWssyNux7655-be-C4i8ewGKZI7XCTND-Ukx0IqUcePTLddHWFHAY-shXVlpEBPD5FhYT0K_AWCVM64FrcpHemJVDIoTBFLvbYoGkW2q5QzmFskJ0hGglfH1z3YOXeRlGGq01BJKjtY/s1600/She+dies.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah, that scene</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, at the climax of the fight against Godzilla, once everyone is eaten, or has eaten it. Mystique steals Godzilla's powers, becomes a giant reptile and they duke it out in a massive epic fight. Finally, right as Godzilla's about to breath nuclear death down her throat he looks deep into her eyes, falls in love... and you're free to speculate from there depending on how comfortable you are imagining giant reptile sex.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. All the Pixar Movies Finally Unite</span></u></h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AND DESTROY THE WORLD</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You might be aware that Pixar has created a combined movie universe with an easter egg in every movie, and if you don't please refer to this episode of Crack's After Hours <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ajRI8h1bxs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ajRI8h1bxs</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This movie universe could bring in your favorite Pixar characters and mix them in crazy fun adventures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the franchise needs a reboot, it gets dark. Woody becomes disheartened by the people that keep discarding his crew, time and time again as they age, and Scarface style becomes the anit-hero. He reaches over to the Monsters Inc. world with a world-dominating plan to enslave the human race so that the Monsters will never have to work again. The monsters have access to every humans' house on the planet with their door contraptions so they kidnap the humans quickly. Toys, monsters and cars can roam the world freely, free from the inhumane shackles people have put on them.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Say hello to my tiny uprising!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Monsters enslave the humans like the Matrix, feeding off their screams and laughter. The lone (Walking Dead-like) human survivors flee Earth (Wall-E) to avoid becoming extinct in the aftermath. Then power struggles turn into several installments about the Toys vs. Monsters vs. Cars, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally when the humans return to Earth (end of Wall-E), they clone the couple from Up to be the hero adventurers and win back the world for humanity. We get to see our two favorite Up characters, young again, in love, on a huge earth-saving adventure. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Literally (quite literally, I am literally being literal here) LITERALLY, the Most Epic Battle Ever</span></u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am if nothing, a huge nerd for The Lord of the Rings. I love it so much that I refuse to watch the Hobbit, because I saw the first Hobbit, which was a mess and refused to watch any of the Hobbit trilogy in protest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See, Peter Jackson executed it to be more family-friendly. I get that, it's more profitable and accessible for kids, but he didn't have to stretch one book out into an obvious cash-grab of a trilogy. What he should have done was pitch the entire Tolkien universe. Reoccurring characters and actors coming in and out. Epic sagas, Game of Thrones-style with intense battles and love stories in what is a well-made, heavily detailed awesome universe established by an amazing author, like the Tolkein HBO series or something respectable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then one day the Elves come back. Some terrible force has taken over the land across the sea. Everyone gathers their armies, Mordor, Gondor, Elves, the Balrog, literally everyone, goes across the sea to find... Oh Shit Narnia is attacking, then we get the BEST FANTASY MOVIE BATTLE EVER.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16D9Vgjm1miHsFoHgSYsvV_IbQ324nkSG6YGd8l5IsNCL8yDzAw_gfNhiNH69wdA6arRW0k5jji5cTvZHSall9s9sF5cuSCPHHDODfCpxluZzyfKWcZprzes61MarI3qwkemBpJZUxbM/s1600/lotrvsnarnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16D9Vgjm1miHsFoHgSYsvV_IbQ324nkSG6YGd8l5IsNCL8yDzAw_gfNhiNH69wdA6arRW0k5jji5cTvZHSall9s9sF5cuSCPHHDODfCpxluZzyfKWcZprzes61MarI3qwkemBpJZUxbM/s1600/lotrvsnarnia.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was the best part of the LOTR? the battle of Helms Deep. What was the best part of Narnia? Watching a shit ton of animals duke it out at the end of the movie. So we have one 2 hour movie, completely dedicated to: <b>Literally the Most Epic Battle Ever</b>, thereby ending peoples' frivolous misuse of the word "Epic" by setting a realistic standard for the word. Boat battles, siege battles, giant monster battles, everything. Bears fighting elves fighting trolls fighting monkeys fighting dwarves fighting raccoons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And at the end of it Viggo Mortison cuts off Prince Caspian's head and declares himself the leader of all humans, then jumps through the wardrobe and helps win WWII with Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, Merry and Pippin in a whole other series. Which, just consider how fun that could get.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. The Greatest Movie Ever, Directed By David Fincher</span></u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You could argue that David Fincher doesn't have a unified world, that his world is a gritty take on reality, our world. But that's what makes his movies so intense and astounding. But what if we pretend they are all meshed into one coherent universe? What if we make like, the greatest Fincher hit trilogy, like a classic rock rerelease, <i>Fincher's Greatest Hits.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fincher is certainly one of the greatest artisans of his craft in our time, witty, edgy, and seriously suspenseful. He not only brings amazing actors to the screen, but pushes them to play vibrant, entrancing characters that prove their talents. (Brad Pitt in Fight Club, Rooney Mara in GWTDT, etc.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqz7Ivw5AQY-b5zD7vbGY5tNills6z2ayrpHZU3ldhUf8gX-d6Y0eonGBrpX0VIEduQjI3T6UhIJSbzCDQ7XnXWpBZ4Hwte16w9dAv2iuTyp-hi4RteK_afO3dYaa4Zamgocb3SY4TX0/s1600/Frank+Underwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqz7Ivw5AQY-b5zD7vbGY5tNills6z2ayrpHZU3ldhUf8gX-d6Y0eonGBrpX0VIEduQjI3T6UhIJSbzCDQ7XnXWpBZ4Hwte16w9dAv2iuTyp-hi4RteK_afO3dYaa4Zamgocb3SY4TX0/s1600/Frank+Underwood.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdn8OgbAg8gwdFbGEOwH7aVfnn5PSZE3b6EW8yjOE7jZA98j65pEjP9E8byv-wQfSHAIro73OLO_E60Pzv8rcQBl0dOh9-FUlFzO2o_Cyps_a1sOVzdTxKrvJ940I_t1gCXYusvNUrR8/s1600/Tyler+Durden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdn8OgbAg8gwdFbGEOwH7aVfnn5PSZE3b6EW8yjOE7jZA98j65pEjP9E8byv-wQfSHAIro73OLO_E60Pzv8rcQBl0dOh9-FUlFzO2o_Cyps_a1sOVzdTxKrvJ940I_t1gCXYusvNUrR8/s1600/Tyler+Durden.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So take the best of the best of the best and mesh them into one ultra-gritty ultra-intense thriller political crime drama universe. Start out after the Third Season of House of Cards, Spacey is the president and a new threat emerges that he has to face head-on. A national pandemic of domestic terrorists is destroying the economy and infrastructure of the US. Who's at the heart of this problem? Project Mayhem of course, with the help of hacker Lisbeth Salandar (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) leading the cyber warfare fight.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS9ly-NL3nrZsIxDkl41pOfi-YwDUMW6TNWprKa6MImqxrkwYuGXZ4hQyovjdTp9Lo33HjacJg7L9iem-kicmSjTvAYsxsPyR8b0RAIo99_umNEtrovfkns9vgk-5KLy-opc2LVfQ88A/s1600/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS9ly-NL3nrZsIxDkl41pOfi-YwDUMW6TNWprKa6MImqxrkwYuGXZ4hQyovjdTp9Lo33HjacJg7L9iem-kicmSjTvAYsxsPyR8b0RAIo99_umNEtrovfkns9vgk-5KLy-opc2LVfQ88A/s1600/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tyler Durden's dream girl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Spacey employs two detectives, Morgan Freeman and Daniel Craig to hunt down the leader of Project Mayhem. Crazy intense cat and mouse games ensue as Robert Downey gets caught up, replacing Kate Mara's character, as the influential reporter. America is crumbling. Rioting and anarchy prevail like Durden always dreamed. And imagine Spacey using his power to try to control that fire, finally becoming a more self-less person forced to value the county's safety over his own power, awesome character development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, Freeman captures Tyler, brings him to Underwood for a tense political/philosophical confrontation. Morgan Freeman pipes in, tells them, the riots don't matter because the machines are going to destroy humanity. What?! Oh, we've been in the Matrix the whole time. He pulls this dream team into the real world to fight the Matrix. We get a Matrix reboot that's actually good, because the Wachowski... sisters? are out and Fincher is in. And we have Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and RDJ in the grittiest, most action packed, plot-twistingest movie universe ever made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, you know, we get like an actually good film about anarchists vs. the system, I can't honestly imagine how Fincher would end it, I'm just here to pitch.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Planet of the Apes and Every Movie Ever</span></u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three Words. Monkeys on Horses, no sorry, six words: <i>Monkeys on Horses with Machine Guns</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best part of my blockbuster summer was seeing monkeys on horses shooting machine guns. In Dawn of Planet of the Apes, they ramped up the reasonability of this moment happening, so audiences weren't howling with laughter. Except if you take this (and many other moments) out of Dawn then they are gut-bustingly funny by themselves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDZDKFSqpZfgGQEihYFSr7m78vtboWi0rYVruAAuUawn7LUp2hoskwHrx9OBuNACz5tTvAxHNGd6CbP8T26XlyXld3RUDsGDka0x2fNGR6g4EEb-i88XwFGNb5JWsQlMaCt_mcSGB-NM/s1600/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDZDKFSqpZfgGQEihYFSr7m78vtboWi0rYVruAAuUawn7LUp2hoskwHrx9OBuNACz5tTvAxHNGd6CbP8T26XlyXld3RUDsGDka0x2fNGR6g4EEb-i88XwFGNb5JWsQlMaCt_mcSGB-NM/s1600/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-06.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why? Cats are to the Internet as Monkeys are to Movies. Look at most any movie with monkeys in it, 99/100 times they're comic relief. So put them in any movie, put them in a suit or whatever and it's hilarious. Plus every movie crossing over works with the mythos of Planet of the Apes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PROOF</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If they've got a Ape Lincoln memorial (Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes) they've very likely got their own Sapien of Liberty and more importantly, monkey movies. They rose up, enslaved humans, rebuilt society in the same buildings and with the same landmarks/technology that humans created before the war. So in LA there are these huge movie production houses and equipment. The monkeys love movies, but they hate that people are in all of them. They despise us, after all. So they remake every film ever made, replacing all of the actors with, you guessed it monkeys. And the enslaved directors have to remake their own movies, nearly shot for shot with these monkey actors. Or else the directors' ape overlords will make these rich, soft directors do manual labor or something else aweful.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC6xdTcxdjlM88kZtZuknz49TT13Tphyphenhyphenx76F0lRWJxf6daotqQgnoSiVEqgWSDBz2kfCVnreWkgU65UzqLmMRhthDVJmzSdk_2KeW05tOz4uxBc6GEqhqrEiAul1Yflxq6DbTbNc91tM/s1600/star-trek-planet-of-the-apes-crossover-announced-by-boom-studios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC6xdTcxdjlM88kZtZuknz49TT13Tphyphenhyphenx76F0lRWJxf6daotqQgnoSiVEqgWSDBz2kfCVnreWkgU65UzqLmMRhthDVJmzSdk_2KeW05tOz4uxBc6GEqhqrEiAul1Yflxq6DbTbNc91tM/s1600/star-trek-planet-of-the-apes-crossover-announced-by-boom-studios.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WHY SO AWESOME?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The monkeys love these movies, because they take them seriously, but to people before the ape </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">overtaking (that's us, you and me), these movies would be hilarious. Imagine a whole movie where James Bond is a Babboon wearing a tuxedo, looking seriously out the window, holding a glass of scotch. Or Top Gun or Jay and Silent Bob as monkeys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And think of the crazy kung fu stunts you could do with opposable feet and tails, I mean that was the best part of the boss fight in Dawn. Imagine any Bruce Lee movie with the dexterity and endurance and falling from long height---iness of a monkey. Finally, and perhaps best of all, these movie redirectings just after a huge world war they all took part in, these monkeys aren't afraid of a little blood and gore or cursing, every movie would be ultra violent and uncensored in any way. Forget our weak human sentimentalities and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tarantino flicks would be seen with the same awe as a yoga tutorial.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, amazing puns (feel free to contribute):</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Clockwork Orangutang</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dirty Hairy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bonobocop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What's Eating Gilbert Ape?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Citizen Kong</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Band of Babboons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Silver Back Mountain</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Apes of Wrath</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Gorilla with the Dragon Tattoo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Out of Africa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Primates of the Carribean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No Donkey Kong Country for Old Men</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Animal House (Starring real animals)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Few Good Marsupials</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jerry Macace ("Show me the monkey!")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Babbooney and Clyde</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12 Humans</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally <i>Planet of the Apes </i>which would be for them <i>Planet of the Humans</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> - which would finally become the absolute most meta movie ever created and we could stop making post-modern, self-referential BS.</span><br />
<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-19487233053833169362014-07-11T15:02:00.001-07:002015-08-24T11:17:34.189-07:00Your Paycheck/ The Joker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuzEuHKG3YrGh2KJ1Ss7pZh1ot4IGOdzzfD1UKz030pi6q9Ya7br7v83vpjmg5SU2F0WMKMcj_Uhxnj4aKLbfW7fV1-ZRpVbCIDrg2Zm3xk8fG0GLalr3NeCCD1iTIre29mKFPLg9irM/s1600/PaycheckJoker.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuzEuHKG3YrGh2KJ1Ss7pZh1ot4IGOdzzfD1UKz030pi6q9Ya7br7v83vpjmg5SU2F0WMKMcj_Uhxnj4aKLbfW7fV1-ZRpVbCIDrg2Zm3xk8fG0GLalr3NeCCD1iTIre29mKFPLg9irM/s640/PaycheckJoker.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-45801648433040926382013-06-27T02:17:00.000-07:002019-03-14T13:26:17.479-07:00REVIEW: Upstream Color 2: Which God left us Here?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VMHvLM22kKBNKeNgRi1MUCpyxo0mL9bdhf6lgphkqARIG0m91Nz72f8RwGBfPHNdhRW5HdqwTuiQDFFI0_Z_YhENOn2C-XorpvsGYEYzgyylU4U55A7JovbLh_FTuRYRbmZtNKf3XpE/s1600/ucposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VMHvLM22kKBNKeNgRi1MUCpyxo0mL9bdhf6lgphkqARIG0m91Nz72f8RwGBfPHNdhRW5HdqwTuiQDFFI0_Z_YhENOn2C-XorpvsGYEYzgyylU4U55A7JovbLh_FTuRYRbmZtNKf3XpE/s640/ucposter.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Warning: </b>plenty of spoilers ahead. This is the edition of the blog where I dig deep (hopefully) into the thoughts behind the imagery of the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I'm going to go over the main points, so feel free to chime in with things you saw or thought about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I guess my favorite thing aside from the artistry of the story-telling is the entanglement of emotional attachment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKYxnxiKsFTHCWpONnxKV1qyL5GHX5RhKvymptHHUDS9Jq1r04XEPrdoQHR7h9SfzpoNqV8en-_ej1snxrQHU_Ip2jQ-MoWwyPgg-rDFDtX1TlegvYIvZz-jfJgpU_7G4otTMdrLUzGI/s1600/together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKYxnxiKsFTHCWpONnxKV1qyL5GHX5RhKvymptHHUDS9Jq1r04XEPrdoQHR7h9SfzpoNqV8en-_ej1snxrQHU_Ip2jQ-MoWwyPgg-rDFDtX1TlegvYIvZz-jfJgpU_7G4otTMdrLUzGI/s640/together.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For people taking the drug together you become completely in sync with your best friend, AWESOME. For others, your soul becomes permanently attached to some pig-vessel that houses your soul. The couple in the movie is attached because of their similar drugging experiences and because their pig-vessels are in love as well. The pigs' and peoples' relationship echo off each other to reinforce their relationships. These two things seems to make a love more intense than any that could happen in real life. But I believe that's the beauty of romance, is that because of our emotional journey through life we either become attached to those who've experienced similar tragedies or someone who can save us from the demons awoken because of them. In this movie, both happens, which is beautiful. For some people this tragedy is divorce, for some it's drug rehabilitation or alcoholism, for others, it's a death or moving away, or loss of purpose in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another echo in their bond is that they begin to share memories, Jeff cannot tell his memories from Kris's and she can't tell hers from his. This is probably because somehow in the ether between their lives and the pig farm their souls became completely intwined in a way that isn't possible without the parasite. I suppose it's the same for married couples in a way, they know the other spouses' stories so well and they've had a lifetime together of sharing experiences that became stories. My father tells stories about my brother saying they're about me and vise versa all the time, which drives me insane. But the way memory goes, a story loses touch with reality until only the words exist to remind you of the story you used to tell. This movie gives those mistakes purpose, which is reassuring. It's reassuring to know that the little things we quibble about with our family and loved ones could be the result of some beautiful message from the universe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe the greatest emotional entanglement addressed is mans' emotional attachment to their perceived God, or collective conscious or great magnet or what have you. Face it, even if you're the most die-hard atheist you have those days where you're inexplicably angry or depressed without any explicable catalyst. There's some outside force shitting on your day. You can't explain why but you just want curl up, you push the day away. The scene where they're tangled together so uncomfortably in the bathtub reminds me of that feeling. Like Wily Coyote who prepares everything just right but can't catch the Roadrunner,</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex2UmZTArFI_wQMatnsX2_07hJ-JYgdZ660ZBOkfcHE0BTM-WNPR0LJbJoP60hMcs-YVk6NbisMuAx7BqC6d1U9ZkKTJOfKn-DDfssbxIPhLgSjrg_podh0b-4qbNpdIgMRsbADeRZRw/s1600/anger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex2UmZTArFI_wQMatnsX2_07hJ-JYgdZ660ZBOkfcHE0BTM-WNPR0LJbJoP60hMcs-YVk6NbisMuAx7BqC6d1U9ZkKTJOfKn-DDfssbxIPhLgSjrg_podh0b-4qbNpdIgMRsbADeRZRw/s400/anger.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the universe keeps working against us even when we've planned it all out. And we curl up in a ball or we find someone to share the feeling with and you just let it all out. I remember at governor's school I was in a trance-like malaise at the beginning of senior year. Everything seemed distant and I found Melody Rood and Jack Wadell were feeling about the same. We took knives from the cafeteria and threw them at squirrels in the park, god knows why, I guess to feel instinct kick in for a moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the topic of external forces perhaps the most formidable emotional attachment is that echo between the Jeff, Kris and their pigs. It sort of adresses that the reason you love someone is because there is another place where your souls are doing a dance you cannot see or they've been together forever. This is like the modern spin on romanticism, not with the pigs obviously, but the scientifically-viable explanation for romantic love.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-QSmcV3LRCqc4Ojpp5bcleHH0mOqCE0oX0rflnsfCSLUpZNYOpw7HsjuYFoIfYKaXd8IO63jUSu_WXpHM6Pn4pMgEOfa5opS8__UMNnE4-ynRXw3_-P6uJWIvqw86GXG0cw2Me4KLw0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+4.03.12+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-QSmcV3LRCqc4Ojpp5bcleHH0mOqCE0oX0rflnsfCSLUpZNYOpw7HsjuYFoIfYKaXd8IO63jUSu_WXpHM6Pn4pMgEOfa5opS8__UMNnE4-ynRXw3_-P6uJWIvqw86GXG0cw2Me4KLw0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+4.03.12+AM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God represented by the "farmer" he is trying to bring his children back home. He is a silent nurturer who causes pain we can't explain but keeps us safe in our flock. He can see everything we do though we cannot see him and he provides us free will but protects us from the world like when the other farmer tries to buy a pig and our farmer shrugs him off. If we see God then we kill him. This last theory is accepted by Christian scientists who believe that science is really humans allowing us to see "God's design". That science has progressed to show us the machinery inside the world but it also promotes skepticism about a God's existence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the great tangle becomes you thinking about your soul and what it means and so the pigs become more important than the people. And when the pigs are more important to the audience then it's the same for the characters in the movie. The people go off and take care of the pigs because they have to, because their lives are directly entangled with the characters'. Just as the web of life connects all living things in a way we cannot see, so the entanglement becomes this ecological metaphor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fx1uz9VfpSo-QOJVDtQrtbQq5AywQ0DIZzJlZjD_zcF6T14d88WHBpb-r3Ar0RjITtO5teY_BCIv6j-Y4JU_jUDwsF741TJgcibTI3D19lydN3LmUXP3P6p90iINgLJOWGAJWOjDcDA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+3.12.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fx1uz9VfpSo-QOJVDtQrtbQq5AywQ0DIZzJlZjD_zcF6T14d88WHBpb-r3Ar0RjITtO5teY_BCIv6j-Y4JU_jUDwsF741TJgcibTI3D19lydN3LmUXP3P6p90iINgLJOWGAJWOjDcDA/s400/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+3.12.45+AM.png" width="400" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's the story about the condition of our society straying from nurturing into cold the network of the jobscape. And it can also be seen as calling for the reanimation of us taking care of the environment. Because we all have the power to unify and help cultivate the world we live in if we can pull ourselves out of that cold machine. I believe the answer is that it will take a catastrophe like Alaska reaching 100 degree weather for the first time since Sabor Tooth Tigers were around (oh wait, that just happened). It doesn't say that this is the solution, it doesn't directly adress any global issues, because we all know they're there. Instead it asks the question: If this is what it took for you to change and for everyone to change the world around them would you do it? A greener earth, becoming more cultured, finding true love. I think if most people were given the option to take the drug and endure the parasite they would definitely say....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FUCCCKKK THAT. Worst hangover ever</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvuKquSUjGAClTj7x80jylURZGhbzL7G8zrThhsOruWTXO5Lhtaas-iVBpqeSlOmSQ9f1OJ5-YEU2gX9kLGg-TXyryE7jS6W5cfqCvSUPfgelDSm7TfE85s-eMbN0ng4Two8QceYcgpU/s1600/hangover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvuKquSUjGAClTj7x80jylURZGhbzL7G8zrThhsOruWTXO5Lhtaas-iVBpqeSlOmSQ9f1OJ5-YEU2gX9kLGg-TXyryE7jS6W5cfqCvSUPfgelDSm7TfE85s-eMbN0ng4Two8QceYcgpU/s640/hangover.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course the movie raises more questions than it answers, including: Did she kill the "farmer" in real life after finding out where he was or did she travel from her reality to his and kill him within some hyper-reality? Is the drug-guru actually a force for good, as in this sort of experience is what it'll take for humanity to become care-takers of nature again or is he just a selfish fuck looking to make some money? And finally: if that drug-guru can extract tens of thousands of dollars safely from his victims then why is he dangerously trying to sell pills at seedy bars for a quick buck like an idiot?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the main characters ever ate bacon could it be considered cannibalism?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi3mQZOiInabe2krR5Z2MKyPcXU4N0w0ULN1Ma034TfU6nRucNtQklhH4cS2CXIjCrpnAIPQobb0V-k8G1n_QCFusD5vJHMswZEaCvCc1XkbEsLHJt21naMUq40XzNcvOCS1jYyo9bok/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+2.29.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi3mQZOiInabe2krR5Z2MKyPcXU4N0w0ULN1Ma034TfU6nRucNtQklhH4cS2CXIjCrpnAIPQobb0V-k8G1n_QCFusD5vJHMswZEaCvCc1XkbEsLHJt21naMUq40XzNcvOCS1jYyo9bok/s640/Screen+shot+2013-06-27+at+2.29.56+AM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-11578985014202133162013-06-27T01:22:00.001-07:002019-03-14T13:26:30.659-07:00REVIEW: Upstream Color: The Final MPDG movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrgIjOzsoTN18gtRhabiBi-NYPyEEaU0-BJy1vzZz7iU7hsAAfTdw8q_0QglS4w5W07M6ePHOJjTARvYyFhmG29ExnRZbkkcAbFpPwX1tsviEHwlGAbIVL2owMNpgwWTdgvJgOvyxcLQ/s1600/ucposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrgIjOzsoTN18gtRhabiBi-NYPyEEaU0-BJy1vzZz7iU7hsAAfTdw8q_0QglS4w5W07M6ePHOJjTARvYyFhmG29ExnRZbkkcAbFpPwX1tsviEHwlGAbIVL2owMNpgwWTdgvJgOvyxcLQ/s640/ucposter.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a little review/motivator for anyone who hasn't seen the movie. Here's the trailer, one of the best trailers I've ever seen, promotes intrigue without giving anything away.: <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/upstreamcolor/">http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/upstreamcolor/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those who have seen it check out the second review on my site: "Which God left us here?" for some brain teasing about what is going on in the movie on a global level/personal/whatthehellisgoingon? level. BUT anyways, on to the review,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going to go ahead and say that watching this movie made me feel like I'd never seen a movie before. It is hopeful, it is beautiful, it allows you to feel when other movies are shoving action in your face. Usually I spend time dissecting movies, critiquing, sometimes I really get engulfed and am entertained but few movies give me real pause. Upstream Color dropped my jaw to the floor and kept it there for the entire movie, it made me think about things I didn't even know the movie was about til days after I was still thinking about it. When I watched it I couldn't move, couldn't check my phone, didn't get another beer, didn't do anything. I recommend watching it with someone who isn't a heckler or stickler or watch it alone, it'll be worth it, because the movie is very intense, complicated, and most importantly it's about you.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImJcL_kWXBbyTQNWUlmi-R82kxKq94MAjGRppnzTdTf6GJ2CYA3Y92v107DyTPT1NKm_d_zd62gDF4b82tQOVPq0EPvZzvPfVySuU8QKhybUuAUR6XQeahmpCEI5mec1GyH8RA_bSzZ8/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImJcL_kWXBbyTQNWUlmi-R82kxKq94MAjGRppnzTdTf6GJ2CYA3Y92v107DyTPT1NKm_d_zd62gDF4b82tQOVPq0EPvZzvPfVySuU8QKhybUuAUR6XQeahmpCEI5mec1GyH8RA_bSzZ8/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The movie intentionally avoids answering certain questions and can be perceived as vague but it does so with purpose. See the movie isn't about the characters, it is about you, your interpretation of this impossible thing that happens to them. Of course many movies do this with metaphors, but this does it with unspecific plot points, that yes they'll make sense the second time watching, but the first time, it's like music, you're just feeling through the movie. It's attributed to the artistry with which Shane Carruth tells the story. It wraps artistry amid strong emotional entanglements, peeks into unanswered questions even as the credits roll, and tackles the idea of dancing souls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Basically the movie is about Kris, a successful, cold, typical cog-in-the-machine character with her pragmatic life on track but not much spirituality in her life A drug-inducing guru with an amazing narrating voice guides her through a trip that will jump-start her life to give her new purpose and reprioritize what is important to her. She loses all her money and assets, loses her job, her house, her sense of identity, her self-assuredness. In her new life she takes a shit job, she becomes sullen and nervous, cuts her hair short, and indulges in strange activities like collecting rocks in a pool while quoting a book of poetry. This transition finally explains that parasitic hallucinations are the cause for manic pixie dream girl syndrome.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NGZi042pXn9V6J-FmBQwvunX-l5urRFy4KNtFN_g63BlKFfPXiD0oRUePQ-xiaWQ4HE-XU3ExUwVfYlGhF2tczh1vBP5qC6w-_-ND202qCNULebswYpft2lCczBPoYxGwqFU4Qjy0Nc/s1600/manic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NGZi042pXn9V6J-FmBQwvunX-l5urRFy4KNtFN_g63BlKFfPXiD0oRUePQ-xiaWQ4HE-XU3ExUwVfYlGhF2tczh1vBP5qC6w-_-ND202qCNULebswYpft2lCczBPoYxGwqFU4Qjy0Nc/s400/manic.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With any great MPDG movie there's of course a dark-haired male protagonist who compensates his own dull, unsuccessful life by blindly indulging in her quirky, absurdist activities like listening to rocks fall in a drain pipe, reciting poetry while swimming, and crying about a noise only she can here. And they resolve her problems by buying a album "you probably haven't heard of." Hahaha, just saying. I mean I love the movie, just poking fun. I think the chivalry of his faith in her is one of the most inspiring aspects of the movie, that love is about the choice to have faith in someone. Definitely watch this movie if you haven't already, my second blog in this series has plenty of spoilers.</span><br />
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Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-36276540402266420102012-11-12T11:46:00.002-08:002019-03-14T13:03:29.484-07:00REVIEW: Cloud Atlas<br />
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So <b>Cloud Atlas</b> is essentially the Wachowski "Brother's" take on <i>The Hours</i>. If you haven't seen <i>The Hours</i>, don't worry, you're probably a straight male and don't ever need to.<br />
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So incase you haven't seen it, Cloud Atlas has perhaps the one of the most heart-warming/wrenching trailers of all time, aka <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnAqFyaQ5s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnAqFyaQ5s</a>.<br />
It's universal, it's heartwarming, and uplifting, it has everything for everyone and it plucks heartstrings with that solo piano rippling through time and our lives' importance and unimportance.<br />
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This movie is the unlosing-est smorgasbord of movie genres as any could possibly be. We have forbidden love, golden years love, gay love, love at first sight, past action, future action, Apocolyptico action, conspiracy theory, apocalyptic distopian future, slavery, blaxploitation, and yet not once in the whole movie did I see a dog. Genius actor Tom Hanks and booty call Halle Barry, I say that because directors cast her and Rihanna for the same reason. <br />
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This movie is awesome. Heads above most of the other trash you could see at your Regal Cinemas this weekend. It's funny, it's action-packed, it's heart warming and reassures you about the fears of life, death and afterlife. It's like when your stoner friends get together and start up that conversation: yeah, but if you think about how big WE are and how big the earth is, and how big the universe is, do we really matter? Does anything really matter? Well it does, and this movie shows that we matter to each other and that our actions ripple through time with a persistance that we will never fathom, so treat each other well.<br />
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And before I go into some rants about execution and style management, I just have to say, if you're going to see something this weekend, this'll be heads above Loopers, the Guvnah in another action movie, the millionth James Bond, or Paranormal Activity, or that shitstain by the Regal pig patch Twilight: Ranking Lawns II.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyudPM69RqQztWKhz__tj1xhHthvJ34FwHGg-Q6B_qS55CSOalLc5NQ1IOs1HGWEZyVOLakJWxz9b3CC5rrFueh6NFArXcIU8xX3buTHjwYj62n4TdeOLyYhKze3RtFx5efCcZOs1Z10/s1600/cloud_atlas_ver3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyudPM69RqQztWKhz__tj1xhHthvJ34FwHGg-Q6B_qS55CSOalLc5NQ1IOs1HGWEZyVOLakJWxz9b3CC5rrFueh6NFArXcIU8xX3buTHjwYj62n4TdeOLyYhKze3RtFx5efCcZOs1Z10/s640/cloud_atlas_ver3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: red;">SPOILERS</span><br />
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This movie is going to need two watches to appreciate and though I haven't read it myself, I hear the best experience is to read the book and watch the movie for it's visuals and interpretation. Aside from the action, the different stylization, the eye candy and amazing makeup work, this movie has a lot of heart cheese. I'm not great with emotional films. I will never watch Precious, I couldn't give a shit at the end of Cold Mountain or Green Mile. But in this movie I did care for the characters and some of the love scenes were worth the stakes you put into the characters, though you only got glimpses of them.<br />
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Yet some of this great emotion is sucked from your heart to your head when XXXXX and XXXXXX finally kiss and then your thrown back into 1968 and Hugo Weaving is murdering an old man. Sometimes they play out the emotion through all stories simultaneously, which works pretty well, though is a bit erksome. Sometimes they really needed to slow down and just let you be with the characters for a minute to feel for them but too often would cut to another scene for the sake of a cliff hanger. I mean I wanted to mourn Sexsmith's death, he was such a key binding character and a cool one, I mean the song of the movie was named for him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGi9OfQTWl_vdYEh6qq3ThCMhaCLWgLvh_MPUhyphenhyphenulrf6oMoCISWoO5KrcGDOylA3ZDok_tJ5DvWySWhaAi2QYlGdRtqI3oM5lGIgwX3x6KIqniT1hyd0khbole885_fA-VtyNqs7YQOE/s1600/halle+barry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGi9OfQTWl_vdYEh6qq3ThCMhaCLWgLvh_MPUhyphenhyphenulrf6oMoCISWoO5KrcGDOylA3ZDok_tJ5DvWySWhaAi2QYlGdRtqI3oM5lGIgwX3x6KIqniT1hyd0khbole885_fA-VtyNqs7YQOE/s320/halle+barry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Seeing the movie for the first time is like watching Inception backwards. There are six plots to follow, the narrator unifying them but you can't keep up because you were distracted wondering it that was Hugh Grant or Hugo Weaving behind all that makeup ? I do enjoy the theatrical aspect of this choice. In a lot of live theatre you recast one actor as different characters so that was enjoyable to watch the acting ranges of the actors.<br />
Perhaps this is a new form of movies that move along at supersonic rates like Gamer or Crank or Enter the Void. Keeping channel-flipping audiences entertained. I expect we will keep seeing movies that are more episodic and quick-paced than we usually have.<br />
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All in all the trailer is actually better than the movie is but maybe that's because the movie is a chore to watch and keep up with, though worth it. I recommend downloading the trailer for rewatch on Snapz and reading the book. Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831109421072775501.post-16766870746170594022012-10-01T23:56:00.000-07:002012-10-01T23:56:33.425-07:00Exciting Upcoming MoviesTaking some time off today to talk about some exciting movie announcements, soon to theatres and far in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDihmfu07HqO84DAeIY7s4mX2wmcGEi4AYps8ZPuqe8yOuF7_MKeEmvxpMarJBliugB12y6fkPdTqo4hqFv93yxALnULCT1ln4ntyPfnW4TjwwX5bO1XL8Zns6txA56YPlKD1wEmfV_UM/s1600/OldBoy-Poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDihmfu07HqO84DAeIY7s4mX2wmcGEi4AYps8ZPuqe8yOuF7_MKeEmvxpMarJBliugB12y6fkPdTqo4hqFv93yxALnULCT1ln4ntyPfnW4TjwwX5bO1XL8Zns6txA56YPlKD1wEmfV_UM/s320/OldBoy-Poster.jpeg" width="217" /></a></div>
I love asian movies, they're always pushing borders with their amount of violence, weird sex acts, visual appeal, kung-fu action, and outlandish plots. Perhaps my favorite movie of all time is Old Boy, it's sick, it's noir, it's epic as a Greek Tragedy and so well put together that I can't wrap my head around how they even began to conceptualize it. So, that being said I have some very exciting news.<br />
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1. Spike Lee is remaking Old Boy Americana style. They keep tossing around the cast, but last I heard the star is either going to be Josh Brolin or Samuel L. Jackson. I hope it's Brolin, because he seems more the type and I think Sammy J would be a very strange pick unless he were the merciless bad guy, I could see that working with the crazy factor through the roof. Fun fact: Will Smith was originally going to play the main character, I think he's a great actor, but the role is extremely visceral and requires a lot of embarrassment and raw emotion. I mean, the actor had to eat a live squid for the role, masturbate, and a wild array of other stuff they might not do in the American version. I really hope Spike Lee does a good job, like David Fincher with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and less like what Hunger Games was to Battle Royale. My concern is that there's only one writer on the bill, and it's the guy who fucking wrote Thor, which was soooooooooooooo hard to watch. But he also wrote I am Legend and Mass Effect so I'm on the fence. In the original Old Boy the authors of the manga plus three screenwriters plus the director worked on the screenplay and it shows. Sooooo.... I'm gonna go with: either complete copy paste remake with different visuals = AWESOME or American watered down snoozefest trying to ride the coattails of another great movie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcaFK3YwuEhrEi0ACuRZT1SoEn3-IZkr3mxuaKLLKz_0l0_xtuR8ADCiCm_W7f-kB2pUHnlwAyWJZ5S4clse5G48WDI-8qrxahvPO64nrXMyyWZwzQoNacxzxdpyHubctyajsqVTyyDs/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-10-02+at+2.38.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcaFK3YwuEhrEi0ACuRZT1SoEn3-IZkr3mxuaKLLKz_0l0_xtuR8ADCiCm_W7f-kB2pUHnlwAyWJZ5S4clse5G48WDI-8qrxahvPO64nrXMyyWZwzQoNacxzxdpyHubctyajsqVTyyDs/s320/Screen+shot+2012-10-02+at+2.38.19+AM.png" width="320" /></a>2. The director of Old Boy is coming out with a movie called Stoker. It's got that gruesome, plot-maze, and brutal emotion that I loved about Old Boy and the rest of Chan-wook Park's Revenge series. Here's the trailer, it really says it all.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNpDG4WR_74">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNpDG4WR_74</a><br />
- I also very much like that the uncle just hints that there's a wider conspiracy, illuminati of murders kinda deal. I just read the Straw Men series which was absolutely impossible to put down and if this is even close to that then holy god this movie is going to be too cooler than being with obama and Jay-z in the same room.<br />
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3. There's another american remake of another Korean movie, Bittersweet Life. The original is directed by Jee-woon Kim, who made I Saw the Devil and The Good, The Bad, and the Weird. He's a wild and diverse director who knows how to cast, has great ideas, and amazing visuals. I haven't seen the original Bittersweet Life, but I'm going to now. Also, guess what, curve ball, Eminem is helping produce for the American remake... weird.<br />
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Also the announcement has finally been made, Sin City 2 is finally going to begin filming in November. It's going to be based off Frank Miller's A Dame to Kill for. It has my favorite people from the original cast, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, and CLIVE OWEN! Of course it's being directed by Robert Rodriguez who makes the most innovative and exciting trends in the action film genre and I hope, hooppppppe, gets Tarentino to guest-direct again. I usually don't approve of sequels, they're basically always for money and a sore attempt at starting franchises, but this one I am super suuuuper stoked for.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite actress of all time, Rosario Dawson, from <i>Clerks 2 </i>to <i>Sin City</i> to A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. She's a dream boat; smart, deep, sexy, funny, geeky. So pumped for Sin City 2</td></tr>
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<br />Last VCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09386593885274606216noreply@blogger.com0