list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Independence Day on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Independence_Day/93431/default.aspx Title: Independence Day
Year: 1996
Director: Roland Emmerich
Plot: A group of intrepid humans attempts to save the Earth from vicious extraterrestrials in this extremely popular science-fiction adventure. Borrowing liberally from War of the Worlds, Aliens, and every sci-fi invasion film inbetween, director Roland Emmerich and producer and co-writer Dean Devlin present a visually slick, fast-paced adventure filled with expensive special effects and large-scale action sequences. The story begins with the approach of a series of massive spaceships, which many on Earth greet with open arms, looking forward to the first contact with alien life. Unfortunately, these extraterrestrials have not come in peace, and they unleash powerful weapons that destroy most of the world's major cities. Thrown into chaos, the survivors struggle to band together and put up a last-ditch resistance in order to save the human race. As this is a Hollywood film, this effort is led by a group of scrappy Americans, including a computer genius who had foreseen the alien's evil intent (Jeff Goldblum), a hot-shot jet pilot (Will Smith), and the President of the United States (Bill Pullman). While some critics objected to the film's lack of originality and lapses in logic, the combination of grand visual spectacle and crowd-pleasing storytelling proved irresistable to audiences, resulting in an international smash hit. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 60
Number of Lists: 59
Number of blog posts: 15
Number of discussion threads: 4
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Thu, 14 May 2009 23:39:13 GMTIndependence Day1996Roland EmmerichA group of intrepid humans attempts to save the Earth from vicious extraterrestrials in this extremely popular science-fiction adventure. Borrowing liberally from <a href=/films/251134/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>War of the Worlds</a>, <a href=/films/872/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Aliens</a>, and every sci-fi invasion film inbetween, director <a href="/players/P____88961/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Roland Emmerich</a> and producer and co-writer Dean Devlin present a visually slick, fast-paced adventure filled with expensive special effects and large-scale action sequences. The story begins with the approach of a series of massive spaceships, which many on Earth greet with open arms, looking forward to the first contact with alien life. Unfortunately, these extraterrestrials have not come in peace, and they unleash powerful weapons that destroy most of the world's major cities. Thrown into chaos, the survivors struggle to band together and put up a last-ditch resistance in order to save the human race. As this is a Hollywood film, this effort is led by a group of scrappy Americans, including a computer genius who had foreseen the alien's evil intent (<a href="/players/P____27435/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jeff Goldblum</a>), a hot-shot jet pilot (<a href="/players/P____66596/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Will Smith</a>), and the President of the United States (<a href="/players/P____58045/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Bill Pullman</a>). While some critics objected to the film's lack of originality and lapses in logic, the combination of grand visual spectacle and crowd-pleasing storytelling proved irresistable to audiences, resulting in an international smash hit. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide60Tag Target (>10)591543http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47791b43md.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Independence_Day/93431/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_September_14_Natural_Disaster/625/43896/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: csprague
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/14/2009 2:54:44 PM
Body: [quote user="mercurial"] The inclement weather where I currently am reminded me how quickly the weather can change and the sheer chaos Mother Nature can inflict upon us. For most of us, the worst we see is extreme heat, heavy downpours or blankets of snow; those unfortunate others that must endure hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other outrageous meteorological conditions are a sorry bunch indeed. And it is these events that have been the focus of many a summer blockbuster as well as this week's theme. The first film that comes to mind for me is Twister. This was another film like Independence Day that garnered much attention for the budget it required to make and the phenomenal (at that time and surprisingly still today) visual effects that filled it. Despite a good amount of cheese from the soapy love triangle between Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Jamie Gertz, the film succeeds in the growing tension of the impending twisters and the sense of dread the audience endures as this crazy group of tornado chasers does the unthinkable and purposely heads towards danger. Another film that comes to mind is Hard Rain. I have to admit I don't recall the film that well, but do recall how much I loved the fact that Morgan Freeman was playing the villain. Something to the effect of a large scale crime being committed during a catastrophic flood in a Midwestern town and only Christian Slater can stop it. Definitely need to see this one again. One area where the natural disaster genre needs some definite help is with volcanoes. I can only think of two: Dante's Peak and the aptly named Volcano. Both with relatively decent leading men, Pierce Brosnan and Tommy Lee Jones, but both loaded with laughable impossibilities and storylines that make Uwe Boll seem like Orson Welles. So, let's incur the wrath of Mother Nature and get talkin' this week! [/quote] I love this subject. Just an FYI, we have a group on Spout for this subject: DOOMSDAY's detail page I think you might enjoy some of the lists in there. our trusty intern, Xavier started it a while back and it's been kind of fun to add to the lists every now and then. Anyway, just wanted to let you know. Cheers, Christi
]]>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:54:44 GMTcspragueWeekly Theme9/14/2009 2:54:44 PM[quote user="mercurial"] The inclement weather where I currently am reminded me how quickly the weather can change and the sheer chaos Mother Nature can inflict upon us. For most of us, the worst we see is extreme heat, heavy downpours or blankets of snow; those unfortunate others that must endure hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other outrageous meteorological conditions are a sorry bunch indeed. And it is these events that have been the focus of many a summer blockbuster as well as this week's theme. The first film that comes to mind for me is Twister. This was another film like Independence Day that garnered much attention for the budget it required to make and the phenomenal (at that time and surprisingly still today) visual effects that filled it. Despite a good amount of cheese from the soapy love triangle between Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Jamie Gertz, the film succeeds in the growing tension of the impending twisters and the sense of dread the audience endures as this crazy group of tornado chasers does the unthinkable and purposely heads towards danger. Another film that comes to mind is Hard Rain. I have to admit I don't recall the film that well, but do recall how much I loved the fact that Morgan Freeman was playing the villain. Something to the effect of a large scale crime being committed during a catastrophic flood in a Midwestern town and only Christian Slater can stop it. Definitely need to see this one again. One area where the natural disaster genre needs some definite help is with volcanoes. I can only think of two: Dante's Peak and the aptly named Volcano. Both with relatively decent leading men, Pierce Brosnan and Tommy Lee Jones, but both loaded with laughable impossibilities and storylines that make Uwe Boll seem like Orson Welles. So, let's incur the wrath of Mother Nature and get talkin' this week! [/quote] I love this subject. Just an FYI, we have a group on Spout for this subject: <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/DOOMSDAY/612/default.aspx'>DOOMSDAY's detail page</a> I think you might enjoy some of the lists in there. our trusty intern, Xavier started it a while back and it's been kind of fun to add to the lists every now and then. Anyway, just wanted to let you know. Cheers, Christi http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_September_14_Natural_Disasters/625/43895/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 9/14/2009 2:00:46 PM
Body: The inclement weather where I currently am reminded me how quickly the weather can change and the sheer chaos Mother Nature can inflict upon us. For most of us, the worst we see is extreme heat, heavy downpours or blankets of snow; those unfortunate others that must endure hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other outrageous meteorological conditions are a sorry bunch indeed. And it is these events that have been the focus of many a summer blockbuster as well as this week's theme. The first film that comes to mind for me is Twister. This was another film like Independence Day that garnered much attention for the budget it required to make and the phenomenal (at that time and surprisingly still today) visual effects that filled it. Despite a good amount of cheese from the soapy love triangle between Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Jamie Gertz, the film succeeds in the growing tension of the impending twisters and the sense of dread the audience endures as this crazy group of tornado chasers does the unthinkable and purposely heads towards danger. Another film that comes to mind is Hard Rain. I have to admit I don't recall the film that well, but do recall how much I loved the fact that Morgan Freeman was playing the villain. Something to the effect of a large scale crime being committed during a catastrophic flood in a Midwestern town and only Christian Slater can stop it. Definitely need to see this one again. One area where the natural disaster genre needs some definite help is with volcanoes. I can only think of two: Dante's Peak and the aptly named Volcano. Both with relatively decent leading men, Pierce Brosnan and Tommy Lee Jones, but both loaded with laughable impossibilities and storylines that make Uwe Boll seem like Orson Welles. So, let's incur the wrath of Mother Nature and get talkin' this week!
]]>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:46 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme9/14/2009 2:00:46 PMThe inclement weather where I currently am reminded me how quickly the weather can change and the sheer chaos Mother Nature can inflict upon us. For most of us, the worst we see is extreme heat, heavy downpours or blankets of snow; those unfortunate others that must endure hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other outrageous meteorological conditions are a sorry bunch indeed. And it is these events that have been the focus of many a summer blockbuster as well as this week's theme. The first film that comes to mind for me is Twister. This was another film like Independence Day that garnered much attention for the budget it required to make and the phenomenal (at that time and surprisingly still today) visual effects that filled it. Despite a good amount of cheese from the soapy love triangle between Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Jamie Gertz, the film succeeds in the growing tension of the impending twisters and the sense of dread the audience endures as this crazy group of tornado chasers does the unthinkable and purposely heads towards danger. Another film that comes to mind is Hard Rain. I have to admit I don't recall the film that well, but do recall how much I loved the fact that Morgan Freeman was playing the villain. Something to the effect of a large scale crime being committed during a catastrophic flood in a Midwestern town and only Christian Slater can stop it. Definitely need to see this one again. One area where the natural disaster genre needs some definite help is with volcanoes. I can only think of two: Dante's Peak and the aptly named Volcano. Both with relatively decent leading men, Pierce Brosnan and Tommy Lee Jones, but both loaded with laughable impossibilities and storylines that make Uwe Boll seem like Orson Welles. So, let's incur the wrath of Mother Nature and get talkin' this week! http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_mow/archive/2009/5/1/41953.aspx Post By: The_MOW
Post To: The_MOW Blog
Post Date: 5/1/2009 5:12:32 PM
Body: On July 2nd, communications around the world are sent into chaos as a signal is detected from what appears to be the moon. At first, it appears to be one huge celestial body, but it is quickly learned that it is an enormous spacecraft that launches numerous smaller crafts that take positions over major cities around the world. "Jack" (Jeff Goldblum), a former scientist, figures out that the aliens are using the world's satellites to send signals to each other to coordinate an attack which begins on July 3rd, when the ships begin to attack major cities around the globe. Survivors of the attack converge on Area 51, a secret, but well-known, military facility in New Mexico. In a part of the facility, which is inaccessible to the majority of the survivors, is an alien craft which is much like the ones in orbit over the Earth. Also in this section of the facility, is the remains of three aliens which flew the craft that, in the film, crashed in a famed incident in Roswell, New Mexico. The survivors around the world devise a plan on July 4th to take down the invading aliens, which leads to the typical ending to all movies in this genre. There are some amazing special effects in this movie. The use of computer-generated effects and miniatures to make it appear that the alien crafts are of an incredible size is amazing. The aliens themselves appear to be mostly rubber puppets, but are well done. The performances are good in this movie. There are just a few of them that are there for comic relief in this film, but they are as enjoyable as the more serious characters. Surprisingly, Will Smith doesn't stand out in this film like he does in other performances. Other characters are not well defined, and you do not feel for them as they die during the alien attack. Like I stated earlier, there are some fantastic visual effects in this movie. Most notably during the alien attack. Let's just say that this is one "explosive" movie when it comes to the visuals. Some scenes lag, but that is by design, as they give the audience a breather from the action depicted in the alien attack. Most of these scenes happen after the alien attack, and focus on much needed character development. "Independence Day" is an enjoyable movie that is a good rental if you don't add it to your personal collection.
]]>Fri, 01 May 2009 21:12:32 GMTThe_MOWThe_MOW Blog5/1/2009 5:12:32 PMOn July 2nd, communications around the world are sent into chaos as a signal is detected from what appears to be the moon. At first, it appears to be one huge celestial body, but it is quickly learned that it is an enormous spacecraft that launches numerous smaller crafts that take positions over major cities around the world. "Jack" (Jeff Goldblum), a former scientist, figures out that the aliens are using the world's satellites to send signals to each other to coordinate an attack which begins on July 3rd, when the ships begin to attack major cities around the globe. Survivors of the attack converge on Area 51, a secret, but well-known, military facility in New Mexico. In a part of the facility, which is inaccessible to the majority of the survivors, is an alien craft which is much like the ones in orbit over the Earth. Also in this section of the facility, is the remains of three aliens which flew the craft that, in the film, crashed in a famed incident in Roswell, New Mexico. The survivors around the world devise a plan on July 4th to take down the invading aliens, which leads to the typical ending to all movies in this genre. There are some amazing special effects in this movie. The use of computer-generated effects and miniatures to make it appear that the alien crafts are of an incredible size is amazing. The aliens themselves appear to be mostly rubber puppets, but are well done. The performances are good in this movie. There are just a few of them that are there for comic relief in this film, but they are as enjoyable as the more serious characters. Surprisingly, Will Smith doesn't stand out in this film like he does in other performances. Other characters are not well defined, and you do not feel for them as they die during the alien attack. Like I stated earlier, there are some fantastic visual effects in this movie. Most notably during the alien attack. Let's just say that this is one "explosive" movie when it comes to the visuals. Some scenes lag, but that is by design, as they give the audience a breather from the action depicted in the alien attack. Most of these scenes happen after the alien attack, and focus on much needed character development. "Independence Day" is an enjoyable movie that is a good rental if you don't add it to your personal collection. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/12/11/38265.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 12/11/2008 2:01:18 PM
Body: Thanks to Barack Obama, you’ve possibly had enough inspirational speeches for one year. But if not, go see Milk, and also watch this video, which splices together bits from 40 films including obvious choices like Independence Day, Patton, Braveheart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Animal House, as well as surprise additions like Newsies, Swingers and Galaxy Quest. The montage had me at the 7 second mark due to an appearance from Fozzie and friends (from The Great Muppet Caper), but it goes on longer than 2 minutes. This is not just some compilation of cinema’s greatest inspirational speeches, though; it’s a well-edited stitching of words that come together as one long speech, the most perfect inspirational speech ever. Even Obama could learn a thing from this video from YouTube genius Matthew Belinkie (he also gave us “The Dark Bailout”), especially if the president-elect finds himself at the center of an alien invasion, a war with England or in a roomful of Muppets at the Happiness Hotel. Check out “40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes” after the jump. [via Cinematical] Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:01:18 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com12/11/2008 2:01:18 PMThanks to Barack Obama, you’ve possibly had enough inspirational speeches for one year. But if not, go see Milk, and also watch this video, which splices together bits from 40 films including obvious choices like Independence Day, Patton, Braveheart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Animal House, as well as surprise additions like Newsies, Swingers and Galaxy Quest. The montage had me at the 7 second mark due to an appearance from Fozzie and friends (from The Great Muppet Caper), but it goes on longer than 2 minutes. This is not just some compilation of cinema’s greatest inspirational speeches, though; it’s a well-edited stitching of words that come together as one long speech, the most perfect inspirational speech ever. Even Obama could learn a thing from this video from YouTube genius Matthew Belinkie (he also gave us “The Dark Bailout”), especially if the president-elect finds himself at the center of an alien invasion, a war with England or in a roomful of Muppets at the Happiness Hotel. Check out “40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes” after the jump. [via Cinematical] Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_November_10_Whatchamacallit/625/37256/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: rjsprague
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 11/12/2008 3:45:28 PM
Body: I recall the Hudsucker Proxy's amusing use of Deus Ex Machina. My contribution today would have to be Signs. The alien invasions is conveniently stopped when it is discovered that good old H20 is a corrosive acid for the invaders. (Why would you invade a planet that was 75% water if water can kill you?) I would potentially reference Independence Day as a film that also utilizes deus ex machina, but that might be slightly more subjective.
]]>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:45:28 GMTrjspragueWeekly Theme11/12/2008 3:45:28 PMI recall the Hudsucker Proxy's amusing use of Deus Ex Machina. My contribution today would have to be Signs. The alien invasions is conveniently stopped when it is discovered that good old H20 is a corrosive acid for the invaders. (Why would you invade a planet that was 75% water if water can kill you?) I would potentially reference Independence Day as a film that also utilizes deus ex machina, but that might be slightly more subjective. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/11/4/36940.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/4/2008 12:01:19 PM
Body: Before you go to the polls today, you need to understand where the candidates stand on the really big issues. No, I don’t mean silly stuff like the economy. I mean the issues that threaten to plunge the world into an era of scorched, apocalyptic savagery. Sure, an ongoing war in the Middle East and gradual climate change are kind of scary, but how will Obama and McCain respond to the threats that can wipe out 99% of humanity overnight? These are dire times, and doomsday cinema has made one thing clear: this will probably be our last president before Armageddon sweeps from sea to shining see, so we’d better choose wisely. After the jump we look at where the candidates stand on the issues, from Alien Invasion to Zombie Plague. Near Earth Object Collision The possibility of a near Earth object (such as a huge comet or meteor) striking Earth and wiping out all life has been used films like Deep Impact and Armageddon, and it’s actually quite possible. It’s unlikely to happen in the next four years, but over the next several millennia, a devastating impact event is very likely. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Under which administration would we be least likely to be burned to a crisp when the big one hits? Obama: BarackObama.com has a .PDF available for download describing the candidate’s positions on issues pertaining to science and innovation. It’s pretty hard to find, the document is filed under the “Additional Issues” section of the website. There’s plenty of good stuff in there, but NASA, the organization most likely to be watching out for huge rocks in the sky, is only mentioned in a very small paragraph on the second to last page. The points are rather general, along the lines of “make it better.” McCain: JohnMcCain.com is much more explicit in outlining the candidate’s policies on space. While he doesn’t mention detection of near Earth objects, he does set aside a paragraph to explain why expensive and dangerous manned space missions are important. He says they exhibit courage and are illustrative of America’s status as a superpower. Who comes out on top? I’d have to say McCain. Preventing human extinction in the event of an interstellar impact requires two things: One, preparedness in the form of early warnings and sufficient response technology. And two, the balls to do something about it. While Obama’s commitment to increase basic research funding over the next ten years will help us be prepared, McCain’s fighter pilot instincts and commitment to put men aboard insanely suicidal space missions is essential. Both Deep Impact and Armageddon feature astronauts (who are often just exceptional fighter pilots) making the ultimate sacrifice to save innocent lives. Biological Terrorism Remember that scene in 12 Monkeys where the crazy scientist/terrorist is going through airport security with vials of a super-virus he engineered to wipe out the human race, and the security guard seems only mildly curious before letting him pass? While the TSA seems mostly useless, a biological attack certainly wouldn’t be that easy now. That said, we’re still not even close to being safe from the threat of viruses that melt flesh, turn people into savage killers, or transform humanity into flesh-hungry zombies. What are the candidates going to do to protect us from these threats? Obama: In the aforementioned .PDF on science policy, Obama laments that under the Bush administration “DARPA has retreated from its traditional commitment to invest in long-term, high-risk, high-return research.” Translation: let’s put money into technology that will protect us from far-out, freaky, sci-fi shit. This includes “microsystems, nanotechnology, … synthetic biology, and advanced manufacturing.” So not only will we be prepared for a biological strike, we’ll have a garrison of mech warriors up and running by 2012. McCain: National security is seen as a strong issue for McCain. Indeed, his ideas about tightening border security seem practical and effective, especially keeping a closer eye on the contents of the millions of shipping containers that enter our ports every year. He also has an interesting, and very Republican, idea about involving the private sector in disaster response. True, FedEx is better at tracking shipments than FEMA, but in the event of a contagious zombie plague, the last place you’ll want to go is WalMart, unless you’re planning on looting chainsaws, shotguns, and football pads. Who comes out on top? I may be going against conventional wisdom here, but I’ve got to say Obama. Super secret DARPA funding will lead to technologies that will not only save us, but will totally kick ass. In all seriousness, though, Obama’s willingness to actually talk to the people who are mad at us convinces me he’ll be more effective at stopping terrorism. Alien Invasion A staple of science fiction for well over a century, an attack from outer space would be the ultimate test for a president. The goal here is to be like Bill Pullman’s inspiring President Whitmore from Independence Day, and nothing like Jack Nicholson’s corrupt President Dale from Mars Attacks!. Obama: Obama’s increased funding of science research and DARPA, as mentioned above, would be helpful. But his charisma and diplomatic tact will have little affect on a superior race that views humanity as little more than a colony of pests. McCain: McCain’s strength on defense and his priority on manned space missions would make militarized space flight a reality within a few short years. Unlike terrestrial conflicts, we might benefit from the Republican shoot first, ask questions later defense policy. A full-scale invasion of Earth would take a considerable amount of planning. Under a McCain administration, those flying saucers performing reconnaissance missions would be quickly destroyed, sending a powerful message back to Alpha Centuri: Don’t mess with us. Who comes out on top? McCain, hands down. Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore practically is John McCain. They’re both decorated fighter pilots from Vietnam. And I’m sure McCain would jump back in the cockpit if humanity needed him. Environmental Calamity From The Day After Tomorrow to Wall-E, environmental disasters are common in film. An essential element in these tales is hubris on the part of the world leaders, who don’t act until it’s far too late. Since Al Gore is not running this year, which candidate is better prepared to prevent the world from filling up with trash and toxic gas? Obama: I’ve got to give Obama credit because his environmental policies actually deal with something beyond climate change and energy independence, issues like mercury, air pollution, and water shortages. Of course curbing greenhouse gas emissions is the big enchilada, and his plan seems pretty good. It’s also almost identical to McCain’s plan, at least that’s my impression after perusing each candidate’s website. McCain: McCain’s cap and trade plan to address greenhouse gases looks pretty good (which, considering the record of his party, is a tremendous compliment). One discrepancy is that McCain seems more willing to offer free carbon credits to certain industries that could be stifled by a cap and trade system (like big oil). Neither site is very clear on how such exceptions would be granted. Who comes out on top? Obama, but in a way, it’s a shame. The Democrats pretty much always have a leg up on the Republicans when it comes to the environment, and that’s never been truer than in the last eight years. But this is one issue where McCain’s claim that he would be nothing like Bush is totally legit. As far as Republicans go, McCain is actually pretty green, but Obama still edges him out. Hopefully McCain represents a new kind of Republican, because preventing an ecological apocalypse will require bipartisan effort. If not, we’d better start building a huge spaceship and an adorable little robot to clean up after us. Conclusion: Well, it looks like a tie. Whichever candidate wins, things are looking up in my opinion. Now all we need to do is stave off World War III until January 20. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:01:19 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com11/4/2008 12:01:19 PM Before you go to the polls today, you need to understand where the candidates stand on the really big issues. No, I don’t mean silly stuff like the economy. I mean the issues that threaten to plunge the world into an era of scorched, apocalyptic savagery. Sure, an ongoing war in the Middle East and gradual climate change are kind of scary, but how will Obama and McCain respond to the threats that can wipe out 99% of humanity overnight? These are dire times, and doomsday cinema has made one thing clear: this will probably be our last president before Armageddon sweeps from sea to shining see, so we’d better choose wisely. After the jump we look at where the candidates stand on the issues, from Alien Invasion to Zombie Plague. Near Earth Object Collision The possibility of a near Earth object (such as a huge comet or meteor) striking Earth and wiping out all life has been used films like Deep Impact and Armageddon, and it’s actually quite possible. It’s unlikely to happen in the next four years, but over the next several millennia, a devastating impact event is very likely. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Under which administration would we be least likely to be burned to a crisp when the big one hits? Obama: BarackObama.com has a .PDF available for download describing the candidate’s positions on issues pertaining to science and innovation. It’s pretty hard to find, the document is filed under the “Additional Issues” section of the website. There’s plenty of good stuff in there, but NASA, the organization most likely to be watching out for huge rocks in the sky, is only mentioned in a very small paragraph on the second to last page. The points are rather general, along the lines of “make it better.” McCain: JohnMcCain.com is much more explicit in outlining the candidate’s policies on space. While he doesn’t mention detection of near Earth objects, he does set aside a paragraph to explain why expensive and dangerous manned space missions are important. He says they exhibit courage and are illustrative of America’s status as a superpower. Who comes out on top? I’d have to say McCain. Preventing human extinction in the event of an interstellar impact requires two things: One, preparedness in the form of early warnings and sufficient response technology. And two, the balls to do something about it. While Obama’s commitment to increase basic research funding over the next ten years will help us be prepared, McCain’s fighter pilot instincts and commitment to put men aboard insanely suicidal space missions is essential. Both Deep Impact and Armageddon feature astronauts (who are often just exceptional fighter pilots) making the ultimate sacrifice to save innocent lives. Biological Terrorism Remember that scene in 12 Monkeys where the crazy scientist/terrorist is going through airport security with vials of a super-virus he engineered to wipe out the human race, and the security guard seems only mildly curious before letting him pass? While the TSA seems mostly useless, a biological attack certainly wouldn’t be that easy now. That said, we’re still not even close to being safe from the threat of viruses that melt flesh, turn people into savage killers, or transform humanity into flesh-hungry zombies. What are the candidates going to do to protect us from these threats? Obama: In the aforementioned .PDF on science policy, Obama laments that under the Bush administration “DARPA has retreated from its traditional commitment to invest in long-term, high-risk, high-return research.” Translation: let’s put money into technology that will protect us from far-out, freaky, sci-fi shit. This includes “microsystems, nanotechnology, … synthetic biology, and advanced manufacturing.” So not only will we be prepared for a biological strike, we’ll have a garrison of mech warriors up and running by 2012. McCain: National security is seen as a strong issue for McCain. Indeed, his ideas about tightening border security seem practical and effective, especially keeping a closer eye on the contents of the millions of shipping containers that enter our ports every year. He also has an interesting, and very Republican, idea about involving the private sector in disaster response. True, FedEx is better at tracking shipments than FEMA, but in the event of a contagious zombie plague, the last place you’ll want to go is WalMart, unless you’re planning on looting chainsaws, shotguns, and football pads. Who comes out on top? I may be going against conventional wisdom here, but I’ve got to say Obama. Super secret DARPA funding will lead to technologies that will not only save us, but will totally kick ass. In all seriousness, though, Obama’s willingness to actually talk to the people who are mad at us convinces me he’ll be more effective at stopping terrorism. Alien Invasion A staple of science fiction for well over a century, an attack from outer space would be the ultimate test for a president. The goal here is to be like Bill Pullman’s inspiring President Whitmore from Independence Day, and nothing like Jack Nicholson’s corrupt President Dale from Mars Attacks!. Obama: Obama’s increased funding of science research and DARPA, as mentioned above, would be helpful. But his charisma and diplomatic tact will have little affect on a superior race that views humanity as little more than a colony of pests. McCain: McCain’s strength on defense and his priority on manned space missions would make militarized space flight a reality within a few short years. Unlike terrestrial conflicts, we might benefit from the Republican shoot first, ask questions later defense policy. A full-scale invasion of Earth would take a considerable amount of planning. Under a McCain administration, those flying saucers performing reconnaissance missions would be quickly destroyed, sending a powerful message back to Alpha Centuri: Don’t mess with us. Who comes out on top? McCain, hands down. Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore practically is John McCain. They’re both decorated fighter pilots from Vietnam. And I’m sure McCain would jump back in the cockpit if humanity needed him. Environmental Calamity From The Day After Tomorrow to Wall-E, environmental disasters are common in film. An essential element in these tales is hubris on the part of the world leaders, who don’t act until it’s far too late. Since Al Gore is not running this year, which candidate is better prepared to prevent the world from filling up with trash and toxic gas? Obama: I’ve got to give Obama credit because his environmental policies actually deal with something beyond climate change and energy independence, issues like mercury, air pollution, and water shortages. Of course curbing greenhouse gas emissions is the big enchilada, and his plan seems pretty good. It’s also almost identical to McCain’s plan, at least that’s my impression after perusing each candidate’s website. McCain: McCain’s cap and trade plan to address greenhouse gases looks pretty good (which, considering the record of his party, is a tremendous compliment). One discrepancy is that McCain seems more willing to offer free carbon credits to certain industries that could be stifled by a cap and trade system (like big oil). Neither site is very clear on how such exceptions would be granted. Who comes out on top? Obama, but in a way, it’s a shame. The Democrats pretty much always have a leg up on the Republicans when it comes to the environment, and that’s never been truer than in the last eight years. But this is one issue where McCain’s claim that he would be nothing like Bush is totally legit. As far as Republicans go, McCain is actually pretty green, but Obama still edges him out. Hopefully McCain represents a new kind of Republican, because preventing an ecological apocalypse will require bipartisan effort. If not, we’d better start building a huge spaceship and an adorable little robot to clean up after us. Conclusion: Well, it looks like a tie. Whichever candidate wins, things are looking up in my opinion. Now all we need to do is stave off World War III until January 20. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/4/34764.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/4/2008 5:01:10 PM
Body: Earlier this week, I recommended 10 movies for Democrats to watch. So, to balance things out and hopefully show a lack of bias, I’ve now selected 10 recommendations for Republicans, too. This was actually the more difficult task, because there are so many classic films that display conservative values — and in the 1980s alone, I think there were about a billion films promoting relatively right-wing lifestyles and ideas. Therefore, I’ve limited my picks to the last two decades, except for one underrated gem that left me with quite an impression as a boy. The Dark Knight (2008) Some said Batman is Bush, others said Cheney, but either way this past summer’s superhero blockbuster resonated with certain conservatives who saw the film as something of an argument about — if not apology for — the actions of the current administration. Similarly, this summer’s Hancock and Iron Man have been read as being particularly relative to Republican politics. We Were Soldiers (2002) At first it was shocking to me that John McCain’s pick for best Vietnam movie is this overly dramatic disappointment from director Randall Wallace, which stars Mel Gibson. Then I realized that it’s one of the few Vietnam movies without a completely negative slant on the conflict. In fact, it portrays an official U.S. victory, making it somewhat optimistic compared to technically better films like Platoon and Apocalypse Now. Primary Colors (1998) This veiled depiction of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign is hardly one-sided, and it’s certainly not intended to be a political attack in the way Oliver Stone’s upcoming W. is, but it’s the perhaps the closest thing Republicans have to a parallel to W., Nixon, Dick and other lampoons of GOP presidents. Commando (1985) Here it is, the one recommendation produced prior to the mid-90s, and with good reason. When I was a kid, this movie made me think guns and other weaponry were the coolest things in the world. I had the Commando action figure, which made G.I. Joe look like a total wimp, and I celebrated such accessories as the Bowie knife and the rocket launcher. While plenty of films from the ’80s feature lots of arms, and many of these movies are about rogue missions of vengeance and/or rescue, for some reason it was this specific movie that resonated most. Between my love for this and Red Dawn, I’m shocked that I didn’t grow up to be a member of either the NRA or the GOP. Juno (2007) This is an obvious choice due to all the Juno/Juneau jokes that came with the Bristol Palin baby news, but despite its relevancy to current events, the movie was already somewhat embraced by conservatives who saw Juno’s decision not to have an abortion as a slighty pro-life statement. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) Another movie that the Palin clan reminds me of is this loose remake and its sequel, as well as the similarly remade giant-family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours. The worlds these films exist in have apparently never heard of abortion or birth control of any kind. Independence Day (1996) I doubt that in such a worldwide alien attack that the U.S. will have the best method of response, but anyway, this nationalistic sci-fi movie is a perfect fantasy for Republicans who think counter-offensive measures are as easy as destroying all known elements of an enemy’s connecting cell structure and then calling it certain victory. I always wonder how long it takes after the credits roll for another organization of ships, all with better operating systems, to arrive and successfully destory us all. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) I understand the intention of co-writer/director Roland Emmerich (who also made Independence Day) was to portray the possible effects of global warming, but the resulting plot is so ridiculously exaggerated that to me it hurt the cause more than helped it. For Republicans who don’t believe in global warming or think it’s not as drastic as some make it out to be, this is appreciable as just another fantastic disaster movie with stunning effects and a mindless story. If you’d rather see a disaster movie that’s the gospel truth — literally — check out Left Behind: The Movie instead. Mr. Deeds (2002) The Democrat list features Frank Capra’s original, so I thought it fair to give Republicans the crappy remake. Aside from meaning it as allegory for how far Republican ideals have fallen, I also intend the selection as recognition of Adam Sandler’s political influence (see Eric Kohn’s argument on the matter). I don’t want to spoil the ending, which comes off as Capra by way of Reagan (who of course was a fan), but I will say its rather unfortunate how Deeds spends his money in this version. Death of a President (2006) Maybe you don’t like the idea of seeing your leader assassinated, but just think how the Bush haters feel when they see the consequences of his death. This is your movie, Republicans, because regardless of the reveal at the end, the faux documentary can still be used to support arguments in favor of the PATRIOT act and other such post-9/11 conservative agendas. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:01:10 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/4/2008 5:01:10 PMEarlier this week, I recommended 10 movies for Democrats to watch. So, to balance things out and hopefully show a lack of bias, I’ve now selected 10 recommendations for Republicans, too. This was actually the more difficult task, because there are so many classic films that display conservative values — and in the 1980s alone, I think there were about a billion films promoting relatively right-wing lifestyles and ideas. Therefore, I’ve limited my picks to the last two decades, except for one underrated gem that left me with quite an impression as a boy. The Dark Knight (2008) Some said Batman is Bush, others said Cheney, but either way this past summer’s superhero blockbuster resonated with certain conservatives who saw the film as something of an argument about — if not apology for — the actions of the current administration. Similarly, this summer’s Hancock and Iron Man have been read as being particularly relative to Republican politics. We Were Soldiers (2002) At first it was shocking to me that John McCain’s pick for best Vietnam movie is this overly dramatic disappointment from director Randall Wallace, which stars Mel Gibson. Then I realized that it’s one of the few Vietnam movies without a completely negative slant on the conflict. In fact, it portrays an official U.S. victory, making it somewhat optimistic compared to technically better films like Platoon and Apocalypse Now. Primary Colors (1998) This veiled depiction of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign is hardly one-sided, and it’s certainly not intended to be a political attack in the way Oliver Stone’s upcoming W. is, but it’s the perhaps the closest thing Republicans have to a parallel to W., Nixon, Dick and other lampoons of GOP presidents. Commando (1985) Here it is, the one recommendation produced prior to the mid-90s, and with good reason. When I was a kid, this movie made me think guns and other weaponry were the coolest things in the world. I had the Commando action figure, which made G.I. Joe look like a total wimp, and I celebrated such accessories as the Bowie knife and the rocket launcher. While plenty of films from the ’80s feature lots of arms, and many of these movies are about rogue missions of vengeance and/or rescue, for some reason it was this specific movie that resonated most. Between my love for this and Red Dawn, I’m shocked that I didn’t grow up to be a member of either the NRA or the GOP. Juno (2007) This is an obvious choice due to all the Juno/Juneau jokes that came with the Bristol Palin baby news, but despite its relevancy to current events, the movie was already somewhat embraced by conservatives who saw Juno’s decision not to have an abortion as a slighty pro-life statement. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) Another movie that the Palin clan reminds me of is this loose remake and its sequel, as well as the similarly remade giant-family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours. The worlds these films exist in have apparently never heard of abortion or birth control of any kind. Independence Day (1996) I doubt that in such a worldwide alien attack that the U.S. will have the best method of response, but anyway, this nationalistic sci-fi movie is a perfect fantasy for Republicans who think counter-offensive measures are as easy as destroying all known elements of an enemy’s connecting cell structure and then calling it certain victory. I always wonder how long it takes after the credits roll for another organization of ships, all with better operating systems, to arrive and successfully destory us all. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) I understand the intention of co-writer/director Roland Emmerich (who also made Independence Day) was to portray the possible effects of global warming, but the resulting plot is so ridiculously exaggerated that to me it hurt the cause more than helped it. For Republicans who don’t believe in global warming or think it’s not as drastic as some make it out to be, this is appreciable as just another fantastic disaster movie with stunning effects and a mindless story. If you’d rather see a disaster movie that’s the gospel truth — literally — check out Left Behind: The Movie instead. Mr. Deeds (2002) The Democrat list features Frank Capra’s original, so I thought it fair to give Republicans the crappy remake. Aside from meaning it as allegory for how far Republican ideals have fallen, I also intend the selection as recognition of Adam Sandler’s political influence (see Eric Kohn’s argument on the matter). I don’t want to spoil the ending, which comes off as Capra by way of Reagan (who of course was a fan), but I will say its rather unfortunate how Deeds spends his money in this version. Death of a President (2006) Maybe you don’t like the idea of seeing your leader assassinated, but just think how the Bush haters feel when they see the consequences of his death. This is your movie, Republicans, because regardless of the reveal at the end, the faux documentary can still be used to support arguments in favor of the PATRIOT act and other such post-9/11 conservative agendas. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/7/3/32089.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/3/2008 6:00:33 PM
Body: In response to Karina’s post from yesterday about plot songs, I feel it is necessary and timely to pay tribute today to the best plot song writer since Huey Lewis: Will Smith. From the ’80s on, Smith has provided the world with songs serving as storytelling supplements to his TV show, his movies and even other people’s movies. At times he has even prematurely released songs that could later be applied to movies for which he failed to attach an official plot song. Uh huh. To get us started, here’s one for Hancock. It’s a song released three years ago, but it’s much more relevant now: “Here He Comes” for Hancock The above video is the closest thing I can find to a video for the song, which applies to Smith’s latest movie in three ways. (1) The title is close to the former title of the movie, “Tonight He Comes.” (2) It samples the theme to the Spider-Man TV series, fitting it in with the superhero plot. (3) It works as a big defense against all of the naysayers thinking he’s finally struck out with Hancock. “If U Can’t Dance (Slide)” for Hitch Because the video featuring “Here He Comes” that I embedded already included this track, I’m moving on to it next. According to Wikipedia, the song features a dialogue sample from the hit movie, but I don’t hear it. Still, it does relate to the movie, because of this scene. “Wild Wild West” from Wild Wild West The movie may have been complete crap, but the theme song — and its video — is worth its being made. How this didn’t inspire new hip hop fashion trends is beyond me. “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme Song)” from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Every sitcom should have an opening theme song that lays out a prologue for the series. Especially one as easily remembered as this. If you don’t know the lyrics, you’re definably unAmerican. I think McCarthy said that. “Men in Black” from Men in Black I know that reworking the chorus from “Forget Me Nots” has relevance to the memory-erasing devices in the movie, but the song’s concentration on the Men in Black not letting us remember always made me think about the memorability of the movie itself. The song later became more significant for me when I completely forgot the entirety of Men in Black II a few days after seeing it. “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head)” from Men in Black II Huh. What do you know? I completely forgot this plot song existed, too. “Nightmare on My Street” for A Nightmare on Elm Street Smith never appeared in any of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, but that didn’t stop him from recording this single, which coincided with the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. According to Wikipedia, there allegedly was a video made for the song, but due to New Line’s unhappiness with the track, it was never unveiled to the public. So, hopefully this fan-made video, which apes the Fresh Prince video style perfectly, will do. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” for Made in America I couldn’t leave out this classic Fresh Prince track, because it tells such a great story, so I’m forcefully relating it to an early Smith movie that has to do with parents. It was either that or consider it a plot song for the double-Lohan version of The Parent Trap, in which it appears. Isn’t it about time, though, that this video be adapted into a feature-length film? “Just the Two of Us” for The Pursuit of Happyness The song is apparently in actuality a plot song for a children’s book of the same name that Smith wrote. But since I’ve never seen said book, I’m linking it to his movie about a father and son struggling to get by (they can make it if they try). The video features a different son than the movie, but in fairness to the kids, we can ignore that lack of consistency. “Ring My Bell” for I Am Legend Smith should have updated this old Fresh Prince single and applied it to his previous sci-fi blockbuster. Throughout the movie, he broadcasts what’s basically an invitation for survivors to ring his bell. He’d need to throw in an extra verse about how he doesn’t want the undead creatures to call him up, but that wouldn’t have been too difficult. “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson” for Ali This single off the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince album “In This Corner…” predated Smith’s portrayal of boxer Muhammad Ali by 11 years. And its lyrics don’t exactly apply to the biopic (the closest line to an Ali reference is “I’m rough like a freight train, smooth like ice”). Had Smith waited a decade, though, he could have easily altered the song to fit his Oscar-nominated role. Maybe it would have been titled “I Think I Can Beat George Foreman” or something (Ali would have never said “I think I can”). And maybe it would have gotten Smith a second Academy Award nomination for Ali — for Best Original Song. “Tell Me Why” for World Trade Center Too bad Smith wasn’t cast in Oliver Stone’s 9/11 movie, because this would have worked as its plot song. I guess that would have made the movie a little too silly, though. Maybe it will be on the soundtrack for the inevitable Michael Bay 9/11 blockbuster. “Miami” for Bad Boys and Bad Boys II Three years late or five years early, this should have been the theme song to the Bad Boys movies. Yes, only because the franchise is set in Miami. “Will 2K” for I, Robot “Will 2K” makes me think of Y2K, which makes me think of computers malfunctioning, which makes me think of robots taking over. Say what now? “Summertime” for Independence Day There’s nothing in the song about aliens, destroyed landmarks or even Randy Quaid. But there’s no denying that it goes with the movie, because there are only two things every American must do on the 4th of July: watch a Will Smith movie (preferably ID4) and listen to “Summertime” while sitting back and unwinding. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:00:33 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/3/2008 6:00:33 PM In response to Karina’s post from yesterday about plot songs, I feel it is necessary and timely to pay tribute today to the best plot song writer since Huey Lewis: Will Smith. From the ’80s on, Smith has provided the world with songs serving as storytelling supplements to his TV show, his movies and even other people’s movies. At times he has even prematurely released songs that could later be applied to movies for which he failed to attach an official plot song. Uh huh. To get us started, here’s one for Hancock. It’s a song released three years ago, but it’s much more relevant now: “Here He Comes” for Hancock The above video is the closest thing I can find to a video for the song, which applies to Smith’s latest movie in three ways. (1) The title is close to the former title of the movie, “Tonight He Comes.” (2) It samples the theme to the Spider-Man TV series, fitting it in with the superhero plot. (3) It works as a big defense against all of the naysayers thinking he’s finally struck out with Hancock. “If U Can’t Dance (Slide)” for Hitch Because the video featuring “Here He Comes” that I embedded already included this track, I’m moving on to it next. According to Wikipedia, the song features a dialogue sample from the hit movie, but I don’t hear it. Still, it does relate to the movie, because of this scene. “Wild Wild West” from Wild Wild West The movie may have been complete crap, but the theme song — and its video — is worth its being made. How this didn’t inspire new hip hop fashion trends is beyond me. “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme Song)” from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Every sitcom should have an opening theme song that lays out a prologue for the series. Especially one as easily remembered as this. If you don’t know the lyrics, you’re definably unAmerican. I think McCarthy said that. “Men in Black” from Men in Black I know that reworking the chorus from “Forget Me Nots” has relevance to the memory-erasing devices in the movie, but the song’s concentration on the Men in Black not letting us remember always made me think about the memorability of the movie itself. The song later became more significant for me when I completely forgot the entirety of Men in Black II a few days after seeing it. “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head)” from Men in Black II Huh. What do you know? I completely forgot this plot song existed, too. “Nightmare on My Street” for A Nightmare on Elm Street Smith never appeared in any of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, but that didn’t stop him from recording this single, which coincided with the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. According to Wikipedia, there allegedly was a video made for the song, but due to New Line’s unhappiness with the track, it was never unveiled to the public. So, hopefully this fan-made video, which apes the Fresh Prince video style perfectly, will do. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” for Made in America I couldn’t leave out this classic Fresh Prince track, because it tells such a great story, so I’m forcefully relating it to an early Smith movie that has to do with parents. It was either that or consider it a plot song for the double-Lohan version of The Parent Trap, in which it appears. Isn’t it about time, though, that this video be adapted into a feature-length film? “Just the Two of Us” for The Pursuit of Happyness The song is apparently in actuality a plot song for a children’s book of the same name that Smith wrote. But since I’ve never seen said book, I’m linking it to his movie about a father and son struggling to get by (they can make it if they try). The video features a different son than the movie, but in fairness to the kids, we can ignore that lack of consistency. “Ring My Bell” for I Am Legend Smith should have updated this old Fresh Prince single and applied it to his previous sci-fi blockbuster. Throughout the movie, he broadcasts what’s basically an invitation for survivors to ring his bell. He’d need to throw in an extra verse about how he doesn’t want the undead creatures to call him up, but that wouldn’t have been too difficult. “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson” for Ali This single off the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince album “In This Corner…” predated Smith’s portrayal of boxer Muhammad Ali by 11 years. And its lyrics don’t exactly apply to the biopic (the closest line to an Ali reference is “I’m rough like a freight train, smooth like ice”). Had Smith waited a decade, though, he could have easily altered the song to fit his Oscar-nominated role. Maybe it would have been titled “I Think I Can Beat George Foreman” or something (Ali would have never said “I think I can”). And maybe it would have gotten Smith a second Academy Award nomination for Ali — for Best Original Song. “Tell Me Why” for World Trade Center Too bad Smith wasn’t cast in Oliver Stone’s 9/11 movie, because this would have worked as its plot song. I guess that would have made the movie a little too silly, though. Maybe it will be on the soundtrack for the inevitable Michael Bay 9/11 blockbuster. “Miami” for Bad Boys and Bad Boys II Three years late or five years early, this should have been the theme song to the Bad Boys movies. Yes, only because the franchise is set in Miami. “Will 2K” for I, Robot “Will 2K” makes me think of Y2K, which makes me think of computers malfunctioning, which makes me think of robots taking over. Say what now? “Summertime” for Independence Day There’s nothing in the song about aliens, destroyed landmarks or even Randy Quaid. But there’s no denying that it goes with the movie, because there are only two things every American must do on the 4th of July: watch a Will Smith movie (preferably ID4) and listen to “Summertime” while sitting back and unwinding. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/archive/2008/6/3/30385.aspx Post By: usesoap
Post To: usesoap Blog
Post Date: 6/3/2008 11:07:47 AM
Body: Anticipating the anguished emails of readers who may take umbrage to any critiquing whatsoever of their beloved characters from “Sex and the City,” I opted for a different (read: cowardly) approach to this review which enlists the talents of my editor, one Jen Ellingsworth – perhaps the target audience for this show. My theory is that if the producers wanted to make a film that catered specifically to the audience, it would have been released in the comfortable confines of its HBO home. Since it was debuting at the multiplex, however, it should be fair game for a standard critique on how it stands up as a film. (For example, if Pixar films are for children, shouldn’t they be open to adult reviewers?) Since I was a virgin to “Sex” – I have never watched an episode, nor was I overcome with any desire in which to do so – I felt the thoughts and comments of one who had spent many an hour with our fab foursome would be of relative importance. So below are transcripts of our post-screening conversation over a few rounds of martinis and Budweiser. For those wanting to hear a podcast of our entire conversation, visit natsukashi.wordpress.com. RR: You being, would you say, a quasi-fan? JE: I would say a pretty rabid fan. RR: That's fantastic because that puts us at two polar opposites. RR: You went to see this with your mother. Is she also a fan? JE: No, I think she's seen snippets of episode, but never a whole 'Sex and the City” episode. She certainly knows the characters from the media and pop culture, but she loved it. I think it was just a piece of confection...it has no nutritional value whatsoever. But it was just a lot of fun. RR: My thought process for this is, for guys, movies like “Transformers” have their explosions and guns, and this is kind of the estrogen-filled antithesis of a male-oriented blockbuster, in that the explosions come in the form of Louis Vuitton bags and the guns come in the form of 3-inch stiletto heels. JE: The Manolo Blahniks. RR: See, I don't even know how to pronounce it, that's why I was hoping that you would say it. JE: You are going to have to Google that name, trust me. RR: I am so fashionably challenged, it's sad. But that's a good place to start with this movie because it is so fashion conscious. And because my fashion can literally be found in the back of magazines where you can buy T-shirts with sayings from the 80s on them. This (film) looked like I was at Le Cirque du Soleil. It looked like some of the best fashion designers in the country got together and vomited up the worst aberrations of fabric that they could onto these women. JE: I agree. I mean the bird in the hair (worn by Carrie, played by Sarah Jessica Parker) during her wedding scene. That, to me, was just deplorable. But some of the things were very, very cute, Rob. Maybe not for those of us in the Cape Region. RR: I'm going to guess that it really doesn't have to do with the regions of the country, but rather regions of the body of whether or not you are going to enjoy this film. Because my feeling is that a lot of guys were drug through with misty eyes as they passed by the “Iron Man” and “Indiana Jones” marquee and had to be seated in there with Carrie Bradshaw and her friends... (Let's ) go over the premise of this film. JE: It was basically revisiting the girls – Charlotte (played by Kristin Davis), Miranda (played by Cynthia Nixon), Carrie and Samantha (played by Kim Cattrell) – four years after the series ended to see where they are in their lives. Basically, the whole plot revolves around Carrie and Big (played by Chris Noth), her on-again, off-again love interest, who...get engaged and... RR: They fall in and out of love (repeatedly). JE: Exactly. They've had a tumultuous ten-year relationship and it's seeing what the next step is for that. And babies and jobs and things like that ensue for the foursome. RR: For you, as a fan, was (the film) a big payoff? Did the series end at such a point where this tied everything up in a nice, tidy bow, or was it something that felt like a few more episodes? JE: I feel like it was a few more episodes, quite honestly... RR: It was a LOT of more episodes, let's say. Two and a half freakin' hours? Come on! It was like “Dances with Martinis.” JE: I know, what's next, the two-and-a-half-hour movie of “Two and a Half Men?” To me, it felt like a very long episode. Or, if I had rented the box set of a season of episodes. RR: It's didn't feel cinematic to me. New York has looked better after it was leveled by aliens in “Independence Day.” For having “City” in the title, it didn't feel like it really showcased the beauty of New York. And it felt very confined and cramped. There wasn't much flair from a cinematic perspective. JE: I can see that... (but) they were trying to shoehorn so much in those two and a half hours with how many years of “Sex and the City” on television, ten? RR: The term “excess” comes to mind in every sense of the word. Not just the materialism of the leads (who were) very materialistic...they solved crises by retail therapy and alcoholism. JE: It's true. That is “Sex and the City.” If you are a tried and true fan, you will really enjoy this movie because they've done right by the TV series. But does it belong on the big screen? I don't know. For me, it was good because I did watch the series and I still do. RR: As far as the product placement, was the series as filled with name dropping as there was in this, because honestly, it seemed like there was something being hawked every few minutes of this film, whether it was a designer name or a mineral water or the name of a restaurant, everybody had something to pimp out in this film. JE: The movie was shameless in that respect. The series, not so much. RR: As far as the comedy was concerned in this, at times, I honestly felt like maybe they had the Farrelly Brothers (“Something About Mary”) stop in and direct some of it. In specific, there was an instance where one of the character, Miranda, the lawyer, is rather negligent in, let's say, “landscaping” of the body. It seemed like a very broad style of comedy where it wanted to play with the sexy shenanigans of the Farrellys...The women of the film, and this is from someone who has not spent any time, but in that time that I spent in a darkened theater with them, they seemed so shallow and narcissistic and materialistic that I didn't feel that I could find anything worth merit for these girls, and I'm hoping that the series preceding this helped to flesh them out, but for a newcomer, the movie certainly did not. JE: I can totally understand what you are saying. My whole point is, as a viewer, even for the first time, which my mom basically was, you have to look at it like that cell phone that Carrie had in the movie...it's pretty and shiny, but the prettiness and shininess really doesn't mean anything. And it's not meant to mean anything. It's just like escapism. It was just eye candy – the clothes, the fashion, even the music. And there are strung throughout the movie little nuggets that only people who have watched it from the beginning would get, but I think a lot of that movie could have ended up on the editing room floor. RR: Believe me, I did my research on this. “Entertainment Weekly” put out an entire volume on “Sex and the City” and I read every damn episode guide. JE: Good job! RR: I know. I wanted to make sure that I knew my stuff going in here because I knew the wrath that I would face if I were a tad too harsh on this. It seemed to me that from a male perspective, there was a real anti-romantic vide in this movie. For as “Cinderella-story” as it wanted to be, there seemed to be this entire undercurrent of how romance really is kind of a fallacy. JE: They do eventually get to the point at the end, where they wrap it up nicely, I think. But they could have wrapped it up a little sooner. RR: There's a new character that was introduced and it was Carrie's assistant. Jennifer Hudson of “Dreamgirls” plays her. JE: Beautiful girl. RR: And Oscar-nominated, I should add. JE: I was shocked to see her in it. I had no idea. RR: Personally, I was disappointed because here you have an Oscar-nominated actress, who, I felt, was put in (the film) to say, “Hey look, let's try to pick up the black market.” JE: I felt the same thing. At one point Carrie gives her a rather extravagant gift, and it was so schmaltzy.... (and I'm) saying that from the fan standpoint. That was just a little too much. RR: In that scene, Carrie says “You gave me my life back,” and her assistant says “You gave me a Louis Vuitton”... and that to me summed up the mentality of these four women. Their life can essentially be compacted into a handbag and toted away as long as the Chihuahua can fit in it. JE: Things. A lot of “thing” envy. Excess. RR: From a straight male perspective, I can probably say that I would not walk but run to the other side of the street if any of these women were approaching from the opposite direction. At least based upon this film, I could not see myself cozying up to any of these four characters, because there was just zip appeal to me and they felt more narcissistic than most leads that I should feel compassion for, in a feature film, at least. JE: I think if you spent more time, which you probably will not based on what I'm hearing now... you know, rent the box set, get some Cosmos going... Seriously, I have already talked to my friends who are fans and said “As a fan, you should check this out.” Now, someone who is not that familiar with the series? Put it at the bottom of the Netflix queue. RR: I would go a step further and say, make plans to have kidney stone removal or something... Jen, any closing comments on “Sex and the City?” JE: It is, I cannot say enough, confection. No nutritional value, just sex...and the city. RR: I thought the sex was rather unsexy, but this is why I ambushed you to accompany me on this journey, so that I would at least be buoyed by your positive comments and not suffer the wrath as I would expect. So, thank you very much. JE: Thank you, Rob. RR: I will have this on your desk promptly, boss!
]]>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:07:47 GMTusesoapusesoap Blog6/3/2008 11:07:47 AMAnticipating the anguished emails of readers who may take umbrage to any critiquing whatsoever of their beloved characters from &ldquo;Sex and the City,&rdquo; I opted for a different (read: cowardly) approach to this review which enlists the talents of my editor, one Jen Ellingsworth &ndash; perhaps the target audience for this show. My theory is that if the producers wanted to make a film that catered specifically to the audience, it would have been released in the comfortable confines of its HBO home. Since it was debuting at the multiplex, however, it should be fair game for a standard critique on how it stands up as a film. (For example, if Pixar films are for children, shouldn&rsquo;t they be open to adult reviewers?) Since I was a virgin to &ldquo;Sex&rdquo; &ndash; I have never watched an episode, nor was I overcome with any desire in which to do so &ndash; I felt the thoughts and comments of one who had spent many an hour with our fab foursome would be of relative importance. So below are transcripts of our post-screening conversation over a few rounds of martinis and Budweiser. For those wanting to hear a podcast of our entire conversation, visit natsukashi.wordpress.com. RR: You being, would you say, a quasi-fan? JE: I would say a pretty rabid fan. RR: That's fantastic because that puts us at two polar opposites. RR: You went to see this with your mother. Is she also a fan? JE: No, I think she's seen snippets of episode, but never a whole 'Sex and the City&rdquo; episode. She certainly knows the characters from the media and pop culture, but she loved it. I think it was just a piece of confection...it has no nutritional value whatsoever. But it was just a lot of fun. RR: My thought process for this is, for guys, movies like &ldquo;Transformers&rdquo; have their explosions and guns, and this is kind of the estrogen-filled antithesis of a male-oriented blockbuster, in that the explosions come in the form of Louis Vuitton bags and the guns come in the form of 3-inch stiletto heels. JE: The Manolo Blahniks. RR: See, I don't even know how to pronounce it, that's why I was hoping that you would say it. JE: You are going to have to Google that name, trust me. RR: I am so fashionably challenged, it's sad. But that's a good place to start with this movie because it is so fashion conscious. And because my fashion can literally be found in the back of magazines where you can buy T-shirts with sayings from the 80s on them. This (film) looked like I was at Le Cirque du Soleil. It looked like some of the best fashion designers in the country got together and vomited up the worst aberrations of fabric that they could onto these women. JE: I agree. I mean the bird in the hair (worn by Carrie, played by Sarah Jessica Parker) during her wedding scene. That, to me, was just deplorable. But some of the things were very, very cute, Rob. Maybe not for those of us in the Cape Region. RR: I'm going to guess that it really doesn't have to do with the regions of the country, but rather regions of the body of whether or not you are going to enjoy this film. Because my feeling is that a lot of guys were drug through with misty eyes as they passed by the &ldquo;Iron Man&rdquo; and &ldquo;Indiana Jones&rdquo; marquee and had to be seated in there with Carrie Bradshaw and her friends... (Let's ) go over the premise of this film. JE: It was basically revisiting the girls &ndash; Charlotte (played by Kristin Davis), Miranda (played by Cynthia Nixon), Carrie and Samantha (played by Kim Cattrell) &ndash; four years after the series ended to see where they are in their lives. Basically, the whole plot revolves around Carrie and Big (played by Chris Noth), her on-again, off-again love interest, who...get engaged and... RR: They fall in and out of love (repeatedly). JE: Exactly. They've had a tumultuous ten-year relationship and it's seeing what the next step is for that. And babies and jobs and things like that ensue for the foursome. RR: For you, as a fan, was (the film) a big payoff? Did the series end at such a point where this tied everything up in a nice, tidy bow, or was it something that felt like a few more episodes? JE: I feel like it was a few more episodes, quite honestly... RR: It was a LOT of more episodes, let's say. Two and a half freakin' hours? Come on! It was like &ldquo;Dances with Martinis.&rdquo; JE: I know, what's next, the two-and-a-half-hour movie of &ldquo;Two and a Half Men?&rdquo; To me, it felt like a very long episode. Or, if I had rented the box set of a season of episodes. RR: It's didn't feel cinematic to me. New York has looked better after it was leveled by aliens in &ldquo;Independence Day.&rdquo; For having &ldquo;City&rdquo; in the title, it didn't feel like it really showcased the beauty of New York. And it felt very confined and cramped. There wasn't much flair from a cinematic perspective. JE: I can see that... (but) they were trying to shoehorn so much in those two and a half hours with how many years of &ldquo;Sex and the City&rdquo; on television, ten? RR: The term &ldquo;excess&rdquo; comes to mind in every sense of the word. Not just the materialism of the leads (who were) very materialistic...they solved crises by retail therapy and alcoholism. JE: It's true. That is &ldquo;Sex and the City.&rdquo; If you are a tried and true fan, you will really enjoy this movie because they've done right by the TV series. But does it belong on the big screen? I don't know. For me, it was good because I did watch the series and I still do. RR: As far as the product placement, was the series as filled with name dropping as there was in this, because honestly, it seemed like there was something being hawked every few minutes of this film, whether it was a designer name or a mineral water or the name of a restaurant, everybody had something to pimp out in this film. JE: The movie was shameless in that respect. The series, not so much. RR: As far as the comedy was concerned in this, at times, I honestly felt like maybe they had the Farrelly Brothers (&ldquo;Something About Mary&rdquo;) stop in and direct some of it. In specific, there was an instance where one of the character, Miranda, the lawyer, is rather negligent in, let's say, &ldquo;landscaping&rdquo; of the body. It seemed like a very broad style of comedy where it wanted to play with the sexy shenanigans of the Farrellys...The women of the film, and this is from someone who has not spent any time, but in that time that I spent in a darkened theater with them, they seemed so shallow and narcissistic and materialistic that I didn't feel that I could find anything worth merit for these girls, and I'm hoping that the series preceding this helped to flesh them out, but for a newcomer, the movie certainly did not. JE: I can totally understand what you are saying. My whole point is, as a viewer, even for the first time, which my mom basically was, you have to look at it like that cell phone that Carrie had in the movie...it's pretty and shiny, but the prettiness and shininess really doesn't mean anything. And it's not meant to mean anything. It's just like escapism. It was just eye candy &ndash; the clothes, the fashion, even the music. And there are strung throughout the movie little nuggets that only people who have watched it from the beginning would get, but I think a lot of that movie could have ended up on the editing room floor. RR: Believe me, I did my research on this. &ldquo;Entertainment Weekly&rdquo; put out an entire volume on &ldquo;Sex and the City&rdquo; and I read every damn episode guide. JE: Good job! RR: I know. I wanted to make sure that I knew my stuff going in here because I knew the wrath that I would face if I were a tad too harsh on this. It seemed to me that from a male perspective, there was a real anti-romantic vide in this movie. For as &ldquo;Cinderella-story&rdquo; as it wanted to be, there seemed to be this entire undercurrent of how romance really is kind of a fallacy. JE: They do eventually get to the point at the end, where they wrap it up nicely, I think. But they could have wrapped it up a little sooner. RR: There's a new character that was introduced and it was Carrie's assistant. Jennifer Hudson of &ldquo;Dreamgirls&rdquo; plays her. JE: Beautiful girl. RR: And Oscar-nominated, I should add. JE: I was shocked to see her in it. I had no idea. RR: Personally, I was disappointed because here you have an Oscar-nominated actress, who, I felt, was put in (the film) to say, &ldquo;Hey look, let's try to pick up the black market.&rdquo; JE: I felt the same thing. At one point Carrie gives her a rather extravagant gift, and it was so schmaltzy.... (and I'm) saying that from the fan standpoint. That was just a little too much. RR: In that scene, Carrie says &ldquo;You gave me my life back,&rdquo; and her assistant says &ldquo;You gave me a Louis Vuitton&rdquo;... and that to me summed up the mentality of these four women. Their life can essentially be compacted into a handbag and toted away as long as the Chihuahua can fit in it. JE: Things. A lot of &ldquo;thing&rdquo; envy. Excess. RR: From a straight male perspective, I can probably say that I would not walk but run to the other side of the street if any of these women were approaching from the opposite direction. At least based upon this film, I could not see myself cozying up to any of these four characters, because there was just zip appeal to me and they felt more narcissistic than most leads that I should feel compassion for, in a feature film, at least. JE: I think if you spent more time, which you probably will not based on what I'm hearing now... you know, rent the box set, get some Cosmos going... Seriously, I have already talked to my friends who are fans and said &ldquo;As a fan, you should check this out.&rdquo; Now, someone who is not that familiar with the series? Put it at the bottom of the Netflix queue. RR: I would go a step further and say, make plans to have kidney stone removal or something... Jen, any closing comments on &ldquo;Sex and the City?&rdquo; JE: It is, I cannot say enough, confection. No nutritional value, just sex...and the city. RR: I thought the sex was rather unsexy, but this is why I ambushed you to accompany me on this journey, so that I would at least be buoyed by your positive comments and not suffer the wrath as I would expect. So, thank you very much. JE: Thank you, Rob. RR: I will have this on your desk promptly, boss! http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/5/20/29577.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 5/20/2008 3:01:01 PM
Body: By now I’m sure you’ve heard that former ’80s teen-movie star John Cusack will star in Roland Emmerich’s apocalypse spectacular 2012. Considering the blockbuster filmmaker has previously directed the likes of James Spader (in Stargate) and Matthew Broderick (in Godzilla), I figure it’s only a matter of time before he’s worked with all our favorite ’80s teen-movie actors. So, here’s a list of the next ten actors most appropriate for Emmerich to cast: Kirk Cameron - The former star of TV’s Growing Pains and the ’80s flick Like Father, Like Son has more recently starred in the Christian-targeted Left Behind movies, which, in dealing with the Rapture, fit in with Emmerich’s usual penchant for end-of-the-world scenarios. Considering his pro-creationist stance, he probably wasn’t a fan of Emmerich’s recent caveman epic and his Evangelical status means he probably disagrees with the climate change message of The Day After Tomorrow. Too bad, because seeing Mike Seaver in a big-budget action extravaganza would be awesome. Jason Bateman - He’s already in the midst of a comeback and has even played support in action movies such as The Kingdom and this summer’s Hancock (co-starring with former Emmerich-movie star Will Smith, who unfortunately just missed the cutoff to be considered an ’80s teen star). He’d make for a great lead in a silly sci-fi epic, though. He’s funny, would pass as an adventuring scientist or something and he’d give some extra cred to the typically ridiculous plots that Emmerich deals with. Rick Shroder - Bateman’s old Silver Spoons co-star is in need of another comeback, and after his upcoming performance in the TV-miniseries remake of The Andromeda Strain, he should be ripe for similar sci-fi fare. Alfonso Ribeiro - As long as we’re talking about Silver Spoons. Scott Grimes - He may be happy on E.R., but I miss the little Crite-killing redhead of Critters and Critters 2: The Main Course. Perhaps one day Emmerich can do the long-talked-about follow-up to Independence Day and hire Grimes to kick some more alien ass. Wil Wheaton - Emmerich’s Stargate has slowly evolved into a cult franchise, but it’s nothing compared to Star Trek (though really what is?). After the disappointing box office of 10,000 B.C., Emmerich could do well by casting Wil Wheaton, who will bring his sci-fi cred and fanbase, still strong from his TNG years. Anthony Michael Hall - He’s got a small part in The Dark Knight. Could it be his first step into blockbuster movies now that The Dead Zone is off the air? Let’s hope so … Andrew McCarthy - Just in case Lipstick Jungle doesn’t pan out. But even if it does, I’m still hoping for his substantial movie comeback. Corey Haim - Who wasn’t saddened by the thought that Haim was possibly left out of the new Lost Boys sequel? The guy isn’t nearly as cute as he was twenty years ago, but what’s the harm in casting him at least in a minor role? Corey Feldman - Like you’d want to watch a movie with only the lamer of the two Coreys. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 20 May 2008 19:01:01 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com5/20/2008 3:01:01 PMBy now I’m sure you’ve heard that former ’80s teen-movie star John Cusack will star in Roland Emmerich’s apocalypse spectacular 2012. Considering the blockbuster filmmaker has previously directed the likes of James Spader (in Stargate) and Matthew Broderick (in Godzilla), I figure it’s only a matter of time before he’s worked with all our favorite ’80s teen-movie actors. So, here’s a list of the next ten actors most appropriate for Emmerich to cast: Kirk Cameron - The former star of TV’s Growing Pains and the ’80s flick Like Father, Like Son has more recently starred in the Christian-targeted Left Behind movies, which, in dealing with the Rapture, fit in with Emmerich’s usual penchant for end-of-the-world scenarios. Considering his pro-creationist stance, he probably wasn’t a fan of Emmerich’s recent caveman epic and his Evangelical status means he probably disagrees with the climate change message of The Day After Tomorrow. Too bad, because seeing Mike Seaver in a big-budget action extravaganza would be awesome. Jason Bateman - He’s already in the midst of a comeback and has even played support in action movies such as The Kingdom and this summer’s Hancock (co-starring with former Emmerich-movie star Will Smith, who unfortunately just missed the cutoff to be considered an ’80s teen star). He’d make for a great lead in a silly sci-fi epic, though. He’s funny, would pass as an adventuring scientist or something and he’d give some extra cred to the typically ridiculous plots that Emmerich deals with. Rick Shroder - Bateman’s old Silver Spoons co-star is in need of another comeback, and after his upcoming performance in the TV-miniseries remake of The Andromeda Strain, he should be ripe for similar sci-fi fare. Alfonso Ribeiro - As long as we’re talking about Silver Spoons. Scott Grimes - He may be happy on E.R., but I miss the little Crite-killing redhead of Critters and Critters 2: The Main Course. Perhaps one day Emmerich can do the long-talked-about follow-up to Independence Day and hire Grimes to kick some more alien ass. Wil Wheaton - Emmerich’s Stargate has slowly evolved into a cult franchise, but it’s nothing compared to Star Trek (though really what is?). After the disappointing box office of 10,000 B.C., Emmerich could do well by casting Wil Wheaton, who will bring his sci-fi cred and fanbase, still strong from his TNG years. Anthony Michael Hall - He’s got a small part in The Dark Knight. Could it be his first step into blockbuster movies now that The Dead Zone is off the air? Let’s hope so … Andrew McCarthy - Just in case Lipstick Jungle doesn’t pan out. But even if it does, I’m still hoping for his substantial movie comeback. Corey Haim - Who wasn’t saddened by the thought that Haim was possibly left out of the new Lost Boys sequel? The guy isn’t nearly as cute as he was twenty years ago, but what’s the harm in casting him at least in a minor role? Corey Feldman - Like you’d want to watch a movie with only the lamer of the two Coreys. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/war/MemberTagFilms.aspxwar
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