tagged w/ Movies
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I went in to “The Grey” with my mind made up I was going to hate the movie, but then found it weirdly compelling for its existentialist themes. I knew this would be a highly controversial movie, many environmental groups have railed against the film. I was ready to defend its allegorical message … then I read an interview with the director Joe Carnahan claiming that his movie accurately depicted wolves, rambling about some “superpack” in Siberia that slaughters everything in its path. I found another interview in which he defends the wolves as just being metaphors for nature (so it sounds like he is playing both sides.) It reminded me of Zach Snyder, who gave interviews defending the accuracy of “300.”
I saw the wolves as metaphors for death and the fear of mortality always nipping at all our heels. I certainly didn’t see them as real wolves.
The cleverly done CGI wolves in “The Grey” were far too big (in one scene, the alpha male of the is about the size of a small lion), too black (virtually every wolf in the movie has black fur) far too vicious (killing for revenge and trespassing and playing mind games with their victims) and even psychotic. They didn’t act like real wolves; they didn’t even sound like wolves. Their growls were actually the growls of lions or tigers and their howls were the yippings of hyenas. I much preferred “Two Socks” in “Dances with Wolves.”
Many people will say, “it’s just a movie,” yet after Jaws, sharks were slaughtered by the thousands worldwide, in part because of the hysteria created by the film. “300,” helped do its share to create and inflame the narrative that Iranians and Easterners in general are evil, while it was the West and West alone that promoted freedom and justice. (Never mind the fact Spartans owned slaves and raped and murdered in conquest.). In fact, in many ways, “The Grey” reminded me a lot of “300,” — a technically well made movie that nonetheless embraces ignorance. Both movies are essentially fantasies.
I live in the American West, and I can’t buy into the rhetoric that “it’s just a movie.” I wish Carnahan had been a lot more assertive about that in some of his interviews. I live in country where wolves are considered the epitome of pure evil by many people. The stories run rampant in the West from hunters and ranchers of wolves stalking and chasing hunters and killing livestock out of pure malice. These stories have all been proved to be false. There is no evidence of wolves stalking humans and wolves do not kill for no reason. If they kill a sheep and leave it, that’s because they are caching it for later. Live in the West long enough and you will hear, “sooner or later they’re going to kill a baby.”
Wolves have come to weirdly represent everything wrong in America to some people — the federal government, environmentalists, rules, regulations. Wolves have become a metaphor for an out-of-control government bent on meddling in the lives of locals.
In reality, wolves are just animals. Animals at the top of the food chain that eat to survive. In fact, wolves have killed a grand total of two people in recorded history — two people in the past 150 years (perhaps wolves have killed some Indians before recorded history, but likely, this was very rare, as well.). More people than that die every year in the U.S. from domestic dog attacks.
Back to the film. In “The Grey,” the wolves are not just animals, but devils lurking in the mists and trees, waiting to claim their victims. The movie, filmed in British Columbia, takes place in the Alaskan winter. A motley crew of oil workers returning from a long shift in north Alaska, are plunged into terror after a plane crash. It is a grim, brutal, bleak movie.
One by one, the black devils, patient and efficient, come out of the mists and snow and take another victim. The survivors run, but they can’t hide from death. Each man faces their mortality differently, some stoic, others giving in to panic and then finally acceptance of their fate much like someone dying of cancer, while lead Liam Neeson like many of us, continues to fight and struggle against the inevitability of death because that is all he knows to do.
Two scenes in this movie stuck with me. One was a night scene in which the impossibly huge alpha male makes his first appearance. All you see is a single eye gleaming in the firelight (all CGI), the eye flickers from one survivor to the other, then the wolf retreats into the black. The message is sent. “You have all been noted.”
The other is when Neeson’s will is finally broken near the end of the movie. Earlier in the movie, the survivors talk about their faith. Neeson, contemplating suicide earlier in the movie, speaks of his atheism. After watching the rest of the survivors succumb, Neeson finally breaks down and asks God for help, but finds nothing in the grey sky. And finally mutters to himself, “fuck it, I’ll do it myself.”
Many of the survivors have reasons to struggle. Families and children back home. So they fight to survive and fend off death. The person who gives up admits he has nothing to live for, he has led an utterly empty life. In the end, we find Neeson has nothing to live for, as well. As he is surrounded by the demons of the snow and they back off and out of the mist enters the giant alpha. Liam Neeson decides to fight to the bitter end, facing death in his way, fighting for the sake of fighting, for the sake of life itself.
Again, powerful metaphor. Powerful allegory. Too bad the poor wolves are picked upon to represent it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqP2o62sZMsI went in to “The Grey” with my mind made up I was going to hate the... more
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An interesting video of images and sound about David Fincher, Stanley Kubrick, how to win friends while brainwashing people and how Hollywood movies influence people, society and culture.An interesting video of images and sound about David Fincher, Stanley Kubrick, how to... more
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BURLESQUE
-Lesbian Twilight Burlesque, starring Madame Rosebud and Little Brooklyn
HUZZAH ! ( editorial comment - dead pan humor )
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http://io9.com/hot-lesbian-vampire-love/
2 related posts - a MIDNIGHT DOUBLE FEATYRE ! VAMPYRS ! Babes,...and DEAD HOT babes !
-'Twilight: Breaking Dawn': Are vampire babies even possible?
Since we were raised on a steady diet of "Interview with the Vampire," "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "True Blood," "The Vampire Diaries" and "Twilight," we mostly assumed vampires could only be born, so to speak, when a living human is bitten by a vampire who then allows that human to drink his or her immortality-giving blood. Pop culture lore would also have us believe that when one is transformed into a vampire, she remains forever the age she was at transformation. Hence Kirsten Dunst's little girl vampire in "Interview."
There is some precedence in film ("Grave of the Vampire") and fiction, according to The Daily Rot. Aside from "Breaking Dawn," in Poppy Z. Brite's 1992 novel "Lost Souls," the main character gets knocked up by a vampire. But, alas, the she dies before we find out whether she can carry a baby to term.
But, according to the same site, there's an old Slavic term for the child of a human woman and a vampire father: dhampir.
READ MORE !
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http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/11/twilight-breaking-dawn-are-vampire-babies-even-possible.htmlBURLESQUE
-Lesbian Twilight Burlesque, starring Madame Rosebud and Little Brooklyn... more
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The Disney Princesses are a controversial subject among some parents. Either they're considered iconic reminders of Disney's animated classics, or ubiquitous examples of the studio's marketing genius. Worse still, some cultural critics believe the princesses are dangerous, anti-feminist role models for young girls.
But not all princesses are alike. Disney's reigning beauties all have something to offer, even the old-school ones who are more damsels-in-distress than their contemporary counterparts. Moviefone has ranked the princesses according to the example they set for the girls who love them and want to be them.
http://news.moviefone.com/2012/01/13/disney-princesses-role-models_n_1205380.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl2%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D128832#s612019&title=CinderellaThe Disney Princesses are a controversial subject among some parents. Either... more
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“A Good Wife” is a brilliant five-minute animated short film by the talented Toronto-based illustrator W. Scott Forbes, featuring the artist’s signature minimalist painterly artwork. The film presents a quiet tragedy of mid-1900′s infidelity, the tale of a woman who is in utter shock over her torrid sexual affair with a man who is not her husband. Tormented by painful regret, she decides not to disclose her infidelity to her family. Thus, the family members carry on as though nothing is wrong, going about their daily lives in blissful ignorance. “A Good Wife” provides powerful imagery and music to narrate its plot, successfully leaving viewers feeling emotionally invested despite its short five-minute duration.
This piece includes colorful illustrations and the animated short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/the-sordid-infidelity-of-a-good-wife/“A Good Wife” is a brilliant five-minute animated short film by the... more
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Goodbye sparkly emo Twilight vampires and hello dark and creepy Dark Shadows deliciousness! New Johnny Depp Dark Shadows vampire photos have hit the Internet and the delectable movie star looks fabulously wicked as blood-sucking Barnaby Collins in the upcoming film.Goodbye sparkly emo Twilight vampires and hello dark and creepy Dark Shadows... more
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Audio interview with Mr. Skin of MrSkin.com, conducted by another famous mister, Mr. Media. http://www.mrmedia.com/?p=823Audio interview with Mr. Skin of MrSkin.com, conducted by another famous mister, Mr.... more
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Video interview with Mr. Skin, archivist of naked women (and national treasure), conducted by Mr. Media. http://www.mrmedia.com/?p=1108Video interview with Mr. Skin, archivist of naked women (and national treasure),... more
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Originally created in support of charity, the popularity of the Dieux Du Stade Calendars has been credited for the increased fame of the Stade Français rugby team, as well as for rugby in general, in France. During the calendar’s 10 years, the basic concept hasn’t changed: the calendar features nude and semi-nude photographs of members of Stade Français, the Paris-based domestic French rugby team, and in more recent years, it includes players from other rugby union clubs. Photographed by Francois Rousseau, in his 3rd collaboration with Dieux Du Stade, the theme for 2012 tells the story of “survivors of a lost world, trying to get on board a ship.”
This piece includes a number of high-resolution color photographs, a photo-gallery and a two-minute documentary short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/calendar-dieux-du-stade-2012-nude-athletes-for-a-cause/Originally created in support of charity, the popularity of the Dieux Du Stade... more
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Liam Neeson peed his pants in Istanbul, while he was returning to his hotel after partying in Istanbul, where he shoots Taken 2.
Even Jedis pee in their pants, when paparazzis catch them at the corner of an remote alley in a remote town in a remote country.
The beloved Liam Neeson, actor from Star Wars, Shindler’s List, Clash of the Titans, Batman Begins became the victim of disgusting Turkish paparazzis, when they caught the legendary actor peeing in a street in the heart of Istanbul’s famous nightlife in Taksim, Beyoglu. The tipsy Liam Neeson lost coordination and peed his pants in the panic.
Liam Neeson shooting Taken 2 in Istanbul
Liam Neeson has been shooting the second part of Taken in Istanbul for 2 weeks, stays in the renown Pera Palas Hotel. He often goes to restaurants and clubs with friends in the area called Asmalimescit and became almost a native Istanbulite.
http://rencadesign.com/wp/2011/12/2-liam-neeson-istanbul-caught/Liam Neeson peed his pants in Istanbul, while he was returning to his hotel after... more
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2010 video interview with Maxim model and actress Noureen DeWulf, star of Chuck and Outsourced, conducted by Mr. Media, Bob Andelman. http://www.mrmedia.com/?p=9232010 video interview with Maxim model and actress Noureen DeWulf, star of Chuck and... more
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Can Sunday's Super Bowl result indicate who will win the NBA Finals, Kentucky Derby and presidential election? Perhaps. Read to find out.Can Sunday's Super Bowl result indicate who will win the NBA Finals, Kentucky... more
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The new Taylor Swift "The Hunger Games" soundtrack video will premiere Monday! The first song off "The Hunger Games" soundtrack to be featured on video will be Taylor Swift's "Safe & Sound," featuring the Civil Wars. The song is the lead single from the forthcoming soundtrack for the film based off the young adult novel series of the same name by Suzanne Collins.The new Taylor Swift "The Hunger Games" soundtrack video will premiere... more
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The Paradise Lost movie, inspired by the classic good versus evil poem by John Milton, has been cancelled by Legendary Pictures. The movie was set to star Bradley Cooper in the lead role as Lucifer and had a budget of more than $120 million. Now the word is out that the movie has been shut down because of costs and the overly ambitious technical vision of director Alex Proyas.The Paradise Lost movie, inspired by the classic good versus evil poem by John Milton,... more
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http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-houston/safe-house-2012-review-review
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in Safe House, an action thriller that's also being released this Friday, February 10th. It's pretty much exactly what you expect it to be with Denzel playing the same character you've grown to love over the years.http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-houston/safe-house-2012-review-review
Denzel... more
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Naomi Watts will play the lead role in a Princess Diana movie about the British icon's last two years of life, producers announced on Thursday. The Princess Diana biopic, "Caught in Flight," will be directed by Oliver Hirshbiegel ("Downfall" from a screenplay by Stephen Jeffreys ("The Libetine").Naomi Watts will play the lead role in a Princess Diana movie about the British... more
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http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-houston/journey-2-the-mysterious-island-2012-review-review
Are your pecs jiggling in anticipation for this one? I know mine are. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island starring Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzmán, Vanessa Hudgens, and Michael Caine hits theaters tomorrow, February 10th. Check out the review to get a glimpse at the new Looney Tunes short, "Daffy's Rhapsody." A 3D short starring Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck. It's probably the only reason you should see this movie.http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-houston/journey-2-the-mysterious-island-2012-review-re... more
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