Academy Awards
I guess they are coming up later this evening but I won’t be watching because I prefer Bugs Bunny cartoons to what is on deck this year.
#1 — For soldiers, Hurt Locker sets off explosions of laughter
There sits Staff Sergeant William James, the bomb technician at the centre of The Hurt Locker, lighting a cigarette and bragging about his credentials. “I saw a little bit in Afghanistan, too,” he says on his first Hummer ride with his new team.
Heading into Sunday’s Academy Awards, The Hurt Locker is a favourite, as it has been with critics and at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards last month. With nine Oscar nominations, it’s heralded for its documentary style, based on a script by a reporter who embedded with a bomb team, and billed by the LA Times as “overflowing with crackling verisimilitude.”
But the film’s admirers don’t include those who actually do the job – defusing or destroying makeshift bombs. Canadian explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) soldiers in Kandahar, one of Afghanistan’s most volatile and bomb-laden provinces, say their life is no Hurt Locker.
[...]
#2 — Just How Did Avatar Do It?
Less than three months ago, anticipation was high. So high in fact that here at FemaleFirst we were counting down the days until its release.
James Cameron, the visionary director who made us all be slightly afraid of Arnold Schwarzenegger and shout ‘I’m the king of the world’ whenever we got on a boat was about to unleash his biggest movie yet.
After bringing the world of Pandora to the silver screen, and into the aisles with its eye-popping 3-D, under a fan-fare of hype and expectation, the film has gone on the beat nearly every record going in the world of cinema.
With an unprecedented $2.5 billion dollars in the bank so far, Avatar has not only exceeded all possible expectations, got James Cameron back on top of the Hollywood pile and propelled its stars to international fame.
The real question though is how did a film with no recognisable star or franchise attachment make it so big?
[...]
Then we have “Alice in Wonderland”
And finally, “Precious“.
The first three are cartoons. The last is real as I understand it so I’ll call it “Precious” and maybe Hollywood can learn something if I’m correct.
Full disclosure: I have not seen any of them and likely never will. They don’t interest me.
Therefore the reason why I never watch the Academy Awards. Most of it is just more Liberal bullshit on a grand scale.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Male, retired and the rest is of little interest to anyone. The site keeps me busy and if it helps others to stay abreast of daily events then my time is well spent.
Cynapse Says:
Some people become so politicized that they find evil in anything not openly promoting their dogma. They’re just movies, people. Moreover, they’re artistic and artists consider all kinds of different viewpoint/possibilities – something that is a complete affront to the increasingly bunker-ish mentality of modern day conservatism.
The amount of money these movies gross should indicate to you that the world isn’t nearly as singular and narrow-focused as you might be.
As for the actual movies .. the only one I saw was Alice in Wonderland and it had better not be the winner. The animation was fine and the 3D amusing (chechire cat was incredible!) but the story was average and even Johnny Depp’s infectious weirdness can’t cover the fact that Alice in Wonderland was somewhat forgettable.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Jack Says:
Re: #1 — “They’re just movies, people”.
Indeed and what Hollywood wants the rest of the world to believe. Pandered by George Soros and Al Gore.
I have better things to do.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Jema54 Says:
“They’re just movies, people”. They are trash, IMO. Actors that cannot portray a character well enough to make the audience care, potty language to portray outrage, scripted lefty propaganda in all themes, graphics to replace real action…pathetic and like you Jack; I will make a pass on these plastic people living in an eco centric plastic bubble.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Jema54 Says:
oops that should be ego- centric.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Cynapse Says:
Jack, don’t tell me you are turning into one of those scripture waving nutters like in the south. There is no central agenda to transform middle America into Obama-loving socialists. All of this anti-Hollywood talk comes mostly from the bitter musings of an old aristocracy that’s losing its cultural power. The Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells of this world are no longer deities. It is no longer possible to hide one’s unjust actions behind the flag without facing resistance.
When Americans were revolting against he old guard back in the 1960′s Hollywood was still making highly sexist and racist American propaganda flicks. Only within the last 20 years is it no longer acceptable to portray foreigners as ignorant schmucks who really want to be like us, nor women as foolish damsels whose ultimate purpose is to have babies and clean up after their all-knowing husbands. If you want that fiction, read the Fox Op-ed section. Hollywood is a business and it follows trends rather than creates them.
I don’t watch Hollywood movies because of their unoriginality. There are about 10 plots which are cycled over and over again. The best writing in America seems to come from TV shows on the specialty channels (HBO, Showcase).
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Jack Says:
Re: #5 — I use “common sense” as I understand it just as you do but I come from a different way of life and I’m not into cartoons.
“Hollywood” is “Ballywood” — nothing to do with our real world and more to the point — nothing to do with reality.
“Turning into one of those scripture waving nutters like in the south?”
Not one chance in a million. Never read the Bible and never will.
National Geographic is much better.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Undecided Voter Says:
Bang on Cynapse and their TV shows arent much better. I’ve gone back to watching the British Sitcoms, many of which can be picked up on the american publicy supported channels.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
beentheredonethat Says:
You want to see real movies? Subscribe to Turner Classic Movies. It doesn’t get any better than that IMO. Bogey and Bacall, Jimmy Stewart and all their friends……those were the days of true Hollywood greatness.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Undecided Voter Says:
I do get that BTDT and your right about the old classics. They were the greatest. I also enjoy watching the History channel, National Georgraphic, Outdoor life .& the BBC for my fill of international news.
I also enjoy TVO especially when Steve Palin is on plus Heartbeat.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Cynapse Says:
For television: Breaking Bad, Dexter, Interventions (OK I had to put on reality show in there but at least this one isn’t semi-scripted), and a bunch of Anime shows you haven’t heard of (Japanese writing is often far superior)
For movies … very tough. I’ve somewhat given up on writing and look for other things to like in movies – like Monica Bellucci.
Memento, Ghost Dog and nearly every Stanley Kubrick film were pretty good though.
Posted on March 7th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
beentheredonethat Says:
The Academy Awards were on last night?
Posted on March 8th, 2010 at 10:00 am