Taken Takes the Cake
I was sitting in the theater before Taken started, reading me some Location of Culture (well, the prologue to the Routledge Classics edition) and Michelle was out buying some popcorn and I was thinking, “I can’t wait to put away this Homi Bhabha and watch me some torture porn!”
Torture porn was the least of my worries.
(Spoiler! Spoiler! Since I know the hoards of you are going to see this movie!)
Dude, like it’s not enough that the audience cheered while Liam was on his torture mission. That, I expected. But … his daughter, a rich white chick from LA, was not taken for some ransom. Oh no. Some Albanians wanted to sell her into the sex trade, which turned out to be particularly lucrative given she was a virgin.
Because there is a huge problem with Albanians kidnapping Americans and selling them into the sex trade.
The whole final sequence basically involved the audience holding our breath while we waited to see if Liam could get to his daughter before she lost her virginity. To an Arab sheik. While wearing a white veil.
I’ll leave it to you to figure out if he did, but I will say I think they had a great time at the Purity Ball upon their return to the United States. After Liam Neeson killed like a million people. I think the US traded him so France would keep Roman Polanski. Or else the Christianist right has completely taken over our media and we just don’t know it yet.
Robert DeNiro vs. George Clooney
I was supposed to watch The Deer Hunter for a class I’m auditing on contemporary memorials. See, it’s a funny story. The Deer Hunter actually inspired someone to be inspired to build a Vietnam Memorial, and that’s how we wound up with the whole Maya Lin debacle following by the whole Three Fighting Men debacle. Of course, this was all followed by the Women’s Memorial debacle.
One might argue these were, ahem, artistic quagmires.
What movie would inspire someone to memorialize the first Gulf War? Three Kings?
Stalker Movies as Romantic Comedies
If I could make a Doc Film series based on stalker movies I’ve seen with Renee, these would definitely be on the list:
Wicker Park (2004) — People going in through the windows, pretending to be people they’re not, and, generally, creepiness.
Addicted to Love (1997) — An amazing movie wherein I remember Meg Ryan spying on the guy she wants, spending exorbitant resources to do so, in spy-vs-spy fashion.
I’m sure there are 8 more, so I’m submitting the proposal.
HJNTIY, Take 309
Just when I think I can’t love Rebecca Traister on Broadsheet any more…
So if anyone else out there has a sentence they want to get off their chest, but especially if it’s about how women should just pull themselves together and stop being so damn crazy, get ready to ride the American Dream Train all the way to movie theaters!
Last night I was forced to admit my obsession with this book to someone I’d actually like to have a little respect for me in the morning. When it came down to it, there was no back-tracking, there was stumbling over words. His reaction was an undeniable what-the-fuck moment.
I’m a woman, I obsess. Maybe the book just isn’t that into me.
Chocolatey Racial Political Goodness
I first saw this ad when Julia and I went to see Rachel Getting Married, but that was a good movie that didn’t put me to sleep so I sort of half put it out of my mind. Last night, Calgary and I were on our way to see He’s Just Not That Into You (sold out! at every theater!) and I started talking about this ad. Lo and behold, all of a sudden everything that was wrong with the ad hit me. (What can I say? I am slow) and we got to talking about the racial implications of the ad. You know, like the idea of white women consuming a chocolate man. The complete objectification of him as he breaks pieces of himself off for the hoards of white women who find him irresistible.
Yea. It’s called “Dark Temptation.” There isn’t a single woman of color in the whole ad. A woman bites his ass on a subway. Um, it’s called “Dark Temptation.”
Then, at a 9:50 showing of The International (the only movie still available for viewing in New York City) I got to see the ad again. As soon as it came on the black couple in front of us looked at each other, sort of a little freaked out, and Calgary said “It’s like a minstrel show!”
Seriously. It is.
Foxy time
So, this video is beginning to circulate on the interweb, and it’s amazingly exuberant. It’s foxes on a trampoline!
What’s amusing, though, is the poster’s response to all of the attention that her video is getting. She is the polar opposite of exuberance, claiming ownership of the video, and, counter to the EULA of youtube, denying anyone permission to link or use her video. She has gone to places and belligerently lambasted those who use her video.
This is MY video, it is taken by ME, do not use or take this video, don’t post it anywhere else, or link it to anything without giving me credit, and linking it BACK here to it’s original posting. Thank you.
Why is it so hard still to figure out what this internet thing? I’m all for imaginative uses, but our imagination seems limited by a debate on which real meme we want to apply.
What’s missing?
Okay — So I’m looking for some feedback. Been working with Scrapply to come up with a Chocolate Beer tasting menu for Jen’s arrival. We have the beers somewhat settled (although the idea of adding a kriek is still in the works). The beer lineup is Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, and Southern Tier Choklat.
We will be making chips out of some Idaho russets, garnet yams, sweet potatoes, purple fingerlings, and possibly some parsnips. These will be accompanied by a number of dips, along with some fresh vegetables (sweet pepper, carrot, celery, at the moment).
I think I’ve come up with enough dips for this. Might want to add another that balances the creaminess overload, but I’m loathe to go too tomato-y.
- White Bean Hummus
- Mango Salsa (possibly with avocado to diminish the acidity)
- Chipotle-Honey Dip
- Pan-fried Onion Dip
- Tzatziki
For dessert we’re having a upside-down honey cheesecake.
I’m at a loss. What’s the main course?? I have a Pea Pesto Salad planned. I’ve tossed around the idea of a seafood stew. Or some non-fishy fish? Or have Scrapply prepare some meat? A roast?
The Shanty Kingdom 