TulipO

Ahaha! Stress free reading this is not Haku. Keep reading my friend. Keep reading.

Seriously I just watched the trailer and got all misty eyed.

I can't wait to go see it again. I would go tonight if it weren't for this stupid hurricane!

This is possibly the best movie I have ever seen. Wow. Even at 3 hours I didn't want it to end--and we contemplated going to grab some dinner and catching the late show after. Seriously, awesome artistic direction, the plot was moving without being manipulative, every detail mattered. It was like every film genre in one movie. I have never seen anything so complex so brilliantly executed. A-MA-ZING!

Haku! You're in the middle of book 3?!?!?! Holy shit holy shit holy shit (its the best one!!!)

I hate waiting!!!!

I LOVE Sifl and Olly!!! Miss this show...

I saw 2 really good movies recently: Margaret--with Anna Paquin and an all around all star cast in a very understated film about a teenage girl who is involved in a horrible accident. I'm not sure I understood it 100% but it was extremely compelling. Definitely needs a second viewing to really grasp it. It wasn't hyper-intellectual, but it was definitely allegorical in a more complex way than most films. Its one of those movies where you realize that every shot is important. Also, Paquin is A-MA-ZING. Her acting chops in this film are simply incredible. Midnight in Paris: I'm fairly new to Woody Allen movies, but I thought this one was great. He has finally handed over the reins of the underappreciated, neurotic artist role to some one else, and Owen Wilson was really great. Cool story too. Love the Hemingway character.

Lol! I feel ya man. I know that the circles I run in have been analyzing this shit to death. Honestly, I know that the entire concept of Batman doesn't fall into my particular worldview, but it entertains me anyway. That being said:

Wow--that wasn't even me who neg'd you. Whatever. I still maintain that you are either not reading my actual responses, or you are not comprehending them and you're blaming me for your inability to do so. Additionally, you pre-judge me based on a number of assumptions you make about the left in general. Then with your opinion already formed and half-cocked you launch in to a snide response--that are barely coherent and lack any understanding about the issue at hand.

The wordier posts tend to get skipped I find.

This misinterpretation of the lead up to Hitler is proof we need a history forum. And so the battle continues because Prof X and his band of reformists keep allowing Stryker to pull his shadow bullshit and advocates of mutant "cures" to continue what they are doing--and no amount of lobbying will stop it. I'm with Bane as opposed to the Gothan police and Batman. We are talking about a piece of fiction that is written from the perspective of Frank Miller, who has an incredibly dismal view of humanity and is a proponent of facist order and the Great Man Theory of history. I agree entirely with your points about Bane as they apply in real life. The problem here is that people who think that the corporate elite are the problem are painted as mindless idiots who follow someone like Bane withouth question, and the rich along with the police are the only ones who can save us all. When I say "I stand with Bane" its a joke about the way I feel about the perspective of the film. I know that doesn't translate well over the internet in the first place--nor to someone who pre-judges my politics without understanding them. However, I am also saying that I do not agree that a revolutionary situation involves the chaos that Bane creates, nor do I agree that the cops are a force for good. Slave catchers and strike breakers. This heroification is entirely unwarranted.

Its not so much about good and evil as it is about who wields power. Hitler was in control of the state therefore whatever he may or may not have believed, he was the oppressor. He had all the power of the state behind him and used it to wield supreme power of life and death over a group of people he percieved as less than him, dangerous to his beliefs, and who could act as a scape goat for the problems Germany faced economically. His feelings do not enter in to it. Now with Magneto, his position is very clear. You cannot dispute it. He does NOT wield state power over the majority non-mutant. You can dispute his methods--no doubt. But his position is not comprable to Hitler's or any other head of state in the real world or the X-Men universe. I do want to point out that I think Logan's example is pretty accurate--although I'm sure that will lead some people to draw negative perspectives on Malcolm X which is not my inent. But check this out: If he worked at it Magneto could move the fucking moon. He could crash it into earth, or he could alter the tides to create a massive tsunami. He could move the plates in the very earth. But he doesn't do any of this stuff. If he is so intent on wiping out humanity then why doesn't he? Sure his plans do often mean that some people will die and he doesn't think much about that, but they do not mean that all people or even most will die. I don't know if I can conceive of a scenario where I would advocate mass genocide. I mean it when I say that I like being alive, and I like most people. Also, I don't see the problems of humanity as created by the masses--but rather by the system and those who wield power. Therefore genocide would never be an option because it would solve nothing in my view. I did like the show trials of the Wall St guys in DKR--it was very cathartic. But again, its a movie-- not real life and that is a situation eliminating a small group of people that oppresses the rest of us--not a mass killing of regular humans.

Yes, wouldn't want to point out how you think that oppression is a matter of perspective. Let's not let things like, definitions of words get in your way.

Wait, are you saying the Jews oppressed Hitler? Really trying to figure out where you're coming from on that one...

Right?

But that isn't facism. Sit where ever you like, but Magneto was not a genocidal maniac. He just didn't favor working with his oppressors. Instead he proposed that in order to end the oppression mutants were experiencing they needed to seize power. But he wasn't trying to end the world, or even exterminate humans. He is painted as an anti-hero, but he is not a villain and in fact was probably correct about what the government was up to with that "cure."

ROFFL

I made wonton the other night! They came out great, a little time consuming but worth it. Here goes: 1 package wonton skins --you can make your own dough with flour and water, but grocery store wonton skins are just fine 1/2 lb ground pork 1 bunch watercress, leeks or spinach you pick 1 TBS minced garlic 1 tsp minced ginger 1 pinch red pepper flakes 1 pinch five-spice powder soy sauce rice wine sesame oil Mix the pork, garlic, ginger and chili flakes. Apply soy sauce and rice wine to your tastes. Saute the pork until browned. (It does not have to be fully cooked as there is another cooking step that will complete it.) Place in bowl and set aside until cool. Add the chopped watercress and drizzle with sesame oil. Form mixture into small meatballs. PLace in center of square shaped wonton skin. Wet edges and fold over in to triangle. Wet both ands and pull together. Steam or fry until translucent or golden brown. Serve with a dipping sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, ginger and green onion. Yum!

I also stand with Magneto if you wanted to know...

LOL. There is no such thing. Although there are examples of both in the film, it is impossible to attribute both to Bane.

I stand with Bane.

God Bless America. I thought it was awesome. It was definitely commentary on voyeur culture, but the lead characters were not immune to the same pitfalls they railed against. Its also interesting how there is a line in the movie where a character says "fuck Vladimir Nabokov" and then later in the film are several consecutive scenes which are frame for frame an homage to Lolita. Overall, I thought it was one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Highly reccommended.

I made awesome fried green tomatoes last night. Its more of a cornmeal crust than a batter, but if the oil is hot enough they are perfectly crispy.