By Jesse Washington

Near the end of the hit film Avatar, the villain snarls at the hero, "How does it feel to betray your own race?" Both men are white - although the hero is inhabiting a blue-skinned, 2.74 metre-tall, long-tailed alien.

Strange as it may seem for a film that pits greedy, immoral humans against noble denizens of a faraway moon, Avatar is being criticised by a small but vocal group of people who allege it contains racist themes - the white hero once again saving the primitive natives.
( Read more... )

"Maybe if he had a black hero in there, that point would have been even stronger," Bogle said. - Sapa-AP

Published on the web by Tonight on January 18, 2010.


Actually, the properly PC way would be if the hero was a Han Chinese. They are after all the biggest ethnic group.
This kind of nonsense makes me sick. Then again, those idiots probably wouldn't know a metaphor if it hit them on the head.

I feel silly, missing the build-up to the Golden Globes and now the Oscars. The Golden Globes ceremony is a nice way to gauge the the Oscars and I was quite surprised to see Brad Pitt nominated as well as some actors from "Tropic Thunder". Now, I had not watched "The Curious case of Benjamin Button", but have to remark on Tropic Thunder. It is funny, pokes fun at everything within Hollywood and absolutely refuses to take itself seriously. I almost did not recognise Tom Cruise as the repulsive, sexually frustrated, overweight and bald producer. Nice to note that "Burn after reading" got a kudos at the Golden Globes, but I am a fan of the Coen brothers so I am not the most objective judge:)

Poor Heath Ledger received his posthumous nomination, I wonder who will receive the award on is behalf. Thanks to his death (if one can use that phrase), the Batman franchise received an unprecedented prestige, taking it out of the league of the 'big budget blockbusters based on comic books and spurned by critics'  to the league where the "real" movies  and actors are rated, not just the special effects. I still do not think that "Dark knight" was that good, but obviously I am in minority.

Of course, as probably one of two people on my list, who watches "Mad Men" I mentally applauded the genius of Matthew Weiner and also Jon Hamm and January Jones for their nominations. This for me is truly the series that simply does not disappoint.

Also saw that a new series, called "True Blood" was nominated. It is supposedly about a clairvoyant and a vampire falling in love, but the detailed synopsis reads like the bloodier version of "Days of our Lives". Has anyone watched this? If you have, is it better then it sounds from reading recaps?

Today, saw "Babylon AD" with lyonza . Erm, perhaps I am too desensitised to genetically-engineered Messiahs, strange young women and a post-apocalyptic world. The movie, despite my enjoyment of Vin Diesel's muscles and big explosions just left me mildly amused and not at all interested. There was no originality, the plot forgot to get interesting and well, I did not hate the film, I was at most confused by it. The only two characters who were even a little bit interesting were the supporting roles played by the ever-lovely Michelle Yeoh and Gerard Depardieu.

On another, more furious note, does anyone know the identity behind the unsolicited spammer, tshirtterrorist ? I kind of understand this kind of thing happening on Facebook, just not on Livejournal. Trying to invade people's lives to sell crummy t-shirts? I really hope I can find who this guy really is so I can have the pleasure of verbally cutting him down to size. For now, I have to make do with banning the idiot.

Swiped from orual_dreaming 

I am not a fan of the comic, but it Robert Downey Jnr and cool robots! How can one resist?

The trailer link can be found here.

I had been very lazy, I mean even more then usual. I did however, get the chance to  see some of the movies that I have been putting off for a while.

Of course, in view of my pledge to practice writing everyday, here are my reviews and opinions on a few of them. I think that I can make a brilliant mother-in-law after writing this criticism.

<Start movie critic impersonation>

"Smoking Aces" - All right, I'll admit I wanted to see it for the guns and Ryan Reynolds. I consider most mobster movies my 'light' entertainment. I was disappointed . It had all the right actors, an intriguing storyline - at least in the beginning, the right setting for the genre and a believable introduction. Buddy "Aces" Israel is about to turn in the mafia bosses in return for some protection from the FBI once he testifies. The understandably annoyed mafia boss, has declared open season on the small-time magician-turned-junior-mafia-boss-turning-to-snitch with a very hefty bounty.

The various mercenaries gather to reap the 6-figure 'reward', unfortunately, they shoot more of each other then even getting close to their 'prey'.  The movie starts great as I mentioned, unfortunately it degenerates into flashy moves and lots of gunfire, and by the time the director remembers to explain the storyline, the audience is so overwhelmed by the constant gunfire that the story twist does not stand a chance to make the same impact as it should. Still, the movie does work albeit with a far lesser impression  than intended. It has a Tarantinesqque feel, easy way to spend about 1.5 hours trying to figure out who is shooting who.

In brutally honest conclusion, it shows it has great potential in the beginning, but this potential is lost among the smoking guns and the numerous cast.

Staying with smoke, another movie I finally managed to watch is "Thank you for smoking". It is a deliciously brilliant satire about Tobacco spokesman who is trying to do his job and still remain a role model to his 12 year old son. It is a tongue-in-cheek comedy from the point of view of the bad guys, those lobbyists who are for smoking, and firearms, and alcohol, and all the legal vices that those righteous US Senators are trying to stop the public indulging in. The lead character fights for the 'disfranchised corporations; for the sweatshop owner; for the lumberjack and even the seal poacher'. Just as funny are his friends, the representatives from the Moderation For Alcohol Alliance and the Firearm Safety Council, together they are MOD - Merchants Of Death. Persuasion is the key and overzealous 'virtuous' politicians simply do not win, because morals are for sale and everyone is doing it 'for the mortgage'. This movie is funny, unrepentant and has no problem redefining the bad guys.

I have to mention "Click", it presented itself as a sweet family comedy with futuristic premise. This drivel encompasses every cliche in the family comedy repertoire, the writers did not even bother to recycle the lines! Despite Adam Sandler's best efforts to make it palatable, the overused jokes, the stereotyped characters that could have been easily replaced by cardboard cutouts, and the cheap humour do more then murder the movie, they bury it 60 feet under as well. This movie in my humble opinion, should be watched in the same manner the lead character views his life, with the finger firmly on the Fast Forward button. Yeech!

<End movie critic impersonation>

Back to the grindstone I suppose.

I blame every single movie that has a romantic setting of a bored single woman meeting her dream man sitting in the bar in the hotel.  Starting with Casablanca.

Scenario 1
She is a woman disillusioned in love, he is a single rich executive whose private jet ran into engine trouble and so he has decided to spend the evening within the bar.

Scenario 2
She is a perky busy fashion designer and he is a broken lone wolf of a cop who comes to the bar to drown his sorrows, they meet as his dark past catches up with him.

Scenario 3
He is a sweet, but unassuming guy who is sighing over an unattainable beauty when the hotel is overrun with Far Eastern tourists..err terorrists and manages to save the day and get the girl, finishing his triumph in the same hotel bar.

PUH-LEASE! I have been in several hotels over the years and for most people, the hotel bars are too expensive, easily 3-4 times the nomal value. And as for the people frequenting them, on average, they are mainly married men who are out to have a quick fuck whilst away from the watchful eyes of their wives, or visa versa. In my experience, all the cute guys are out in the funky bar in a trendy part of the city, the business executives or high profile business men/women, who arrived without their spouses are off sleeping, exhausted by a hectic schedule. The other choice is presented in a form of youngish men, who are also after a quick fuck, but probably lack the weding band, instead possesing the emotional maturity of a 15 year old in spring break mood.

So, movies lie, we are indoctorinated by those stupid scenarios and assume that those of us, who travel will have an encounter like that at least once in our lifetime. I suppose, in the older days, one had to find some form of entertainment. Now, that there is wireless Internet access I don't see the point of hotel bars, much to the dissapointment of those with a full range of cheesy pick up lines.

Requirements:

Name 12 fictional characters you would have sex with (in no particular order) and tag five people to do the same.

Well, here is my list:

1. General Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1)
2. Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Stargate SG-1)
3. Jethro Gibbs (NCIS)
4. Cyclops (X-Men movie)
5. Colonel John Shepherd (Stargate Atlantis)
6. Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)
7. Major Lee Adama (Battlestar Galactica)
8. Marcus Cole (Babylon 5)
9. Dr Daniel Jackson (Stargate SG-1)
10. Tony DiNozzo (NCIS)
11. Hannibal King (Blade Trinity)
12.  Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)

I won't tag but everyone is welcome to do the meme.

Well, "Superman returns" officially opens on the 28th of June. The newcomer to the role, Brandon Routh is hailed as the next big hunk to hit Hollywood and every woman's appreciative gaze (and desktop). I do not know if Mr Routh is a good actor or not but in terms of droolworthiness I've downloaded a few pictures. What do you think? My mind is still undecided I'm afraid.
One one side, he does have the Superman comic looks (Mid-Western cornboy with a clefted chin) still, I am not yet convinced he should rank next to another perfectly recreated comic hunk, Christian Bale.