tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post3109151935017729781..comments2023-12-03T02:23:12.272-06:00Comments on BeggarsCanBeChoosers.com: The Oscars Got It Right: "The King's Speech" Towers Over "The Social Network"Marc McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-73497499323941009012011-03-09T13:35:23.387-06:002011-03-09T13:35:23.387-06:00re:
>>This is probably why I admire
>>...re:<br />>>This is probably why I admire<br />>>Tarantino as a filmmaker. His<br />>>characters, although somewhat<br />>>exaggerated, are a lot closer to<br />>>the realities of human nature.<br /><br />Yes, well, I guess it's just different strokes for different folks. I'm as cynical and pessimistic about the human condition as anyone. But I have to admit, there are good, selfless people with a heart out there---although you'd never know it, watching Tarantino's films.<br />I've long believed that the vast majority, if not all, of Republicans are themselves heartless, mean-spirited, selfish people. And what's more, they believe everyone else is that way, as well.<br />I can't help but think that Tarantino has that mindset as well. I'm not sure what his politics are---but I'd suspect he leans toward the GOP. I'd suspect he'd try to deny that and claim that he's a "libertarian" (which is, of course, a cop-out---"libertarian" is just a word that sounds cooler and more hip than "Republican.")<br />In any case, I think he's over-rated. But like I said, different strokes for different folks.Marc McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-87910312148162419172011-03-08T12:49:08.927-06:002011-03-08T12:49:08.927-06:00No, I'm simply saying that Tarantino's fil...<i>No, I'm simply saying that Tarantino's films are flawed because his characters are heartless, selfish and mean.</i><br /><br /><br />This is probably why I admire Tarantino as a filmmaker. His characters, although somewhat exaggerated, are a lot closer to the realities of human nature.The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-61251025980473145882011-03-05T12:01:24.349-06:002011-03-05T12:01:24.349-06:00re:
>>Are you saying that Tarantino
>>...re:<br />>>Are you saying that Tarantino<br />>>was unwilling to take chances,<br />>>because his characters are >>selfish<br /><br />No, I'm simply saying that Tarantino's films are flawed because his characters are heartless, selfish and mean.<br /><br />I think that's just a flaw in his movies and it stems from his limited talent and vision. I don't think this aspect of his films is due to the fact that he's trying to be daring or radical.<br /><br />There's no doubt that Tarantino does want to be a "radical" film-maker. He wants to be the "bad boy" of cinema. He doesn't realize, though, that in order to truly be a radical film-maker takes more than simply having your characters say the word "nigger" repeatedly.<br /><br />Oh, and here's a memo to Tarantino (and all the other would-be "cult" film directors out there).<br /><br />True cult films don't have a fucking $100 million budget.Marc McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-26861435155969808722011-03-04T14:31:56.417-06:002011-03-04T14:31:56.417-06:00First you said:
"His characters don't gi...First you said:<br /><br /><i>"His characters don't give a sh*t about anyone but themselves. Some people enjoy movies full of self-centered, narcissistic characters. But I don't. It's just a matter of taste."</i><br /><br /><br />Then you said:<br /><br /><i>"Frankly, I find Tarantino a coward who is afraid of taking real risks in his films. To him, it's clear that box office prospects are more important than art.</i><br /><br />Your comments strike me as conflicting. Are you saying that Tarantino was unwilling to take chances, because his characters are selfish? That is "playing it safe" for you?The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-79701177605978990042011-03-04T14:29:17.064-06:002011-03-04T14:29:17.064-06:00["I guess this is just a matter of taste. For...<i>["I guess this is just a matter of taste. For me, the problem with "The Social Network" is that it completely and utterly lacked any characters that I cared about."]</i><br /><br /><br />I agree that "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" lacked any characters that I cared about. But I don't judge the quality of a movie based upon the appeal of the characters. <br /><br />I still believe that "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" was better than "THE KING'S SPEECH". Which lacked a great deal of originality and guts, as far as I'm concerned. Plus, the film's production design sucked. To me, "THE KING'S SPEECH" was nothing more than a well acted "Happy Meal" flick that seemed to appeal to the conservative sensibilities of the public, the media and Hollywood. It was a cop out from both Hollywood and the British film industry.The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-69077174962166083892011-03-04T00:18:57.234-06:002011-03-04T00:18:57.234-06:00re:
>>The name of the movie is "THE
>...re:<br />>>The name of the movie is "THE<br />>>SOCIAL NETWORK", not "FACEBOOK".<br /><br />Yes, but it's really hard to separate the two. The movie might as well have been called "The Facebook Story."<br /><br />re:<br />>>I still believe it was better<br />>>than "THE KING'S SPEECH'<br /><br />I guess this is just a matter of taste. For me, the problem with "The Social Network" is that it completely and utterly lacked any characters that I cared about. I found none of the characters were appealing in the least. As a result, I didn't care about their stories.<br /><br />Admittedly, some people don't see this as a problem in their enjoyment of a movie, but I do. For example, Quentin Tarantino's movies also lack appealing characters. His characters are always shallow, narcissistic, and lack any heart as human beings. <br /><br />His characters don't give a sh*t about anyone but themselves. Some people enjoy movies full of self-centered, narcissistic characters. But I don't. It's just a matter of taste.<br /><br />Incidentally, I believe a movie can be cutting-edge and challenging, even if the characters have a heart. The films of Sergio Leone are a good example. His films often feature characters who show that they have a heart. And yet, ironically Leone's films are often infinitely more radical and daring than anything the overrated Tarantino has ever produced. <br /><br />Frankly, I find Tarantino a coward who is afraid of taking real risks in his films. To him, it's clear that box office prospects are more important than art.Marc McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-24665056888964801012011-03-02T10:48:40.448-06:002011-03-02T10:48:40.448-06:00The name of the movie is "THE SOCIAL NETWORK&...The name of the movie is "THE SOCIAL NETWORK", not "FACEBOOK". And although I don't think it was the best movie I saw in 2010, I still believe it was better than "THE KING'S SPEECH', which was nothing more than another example of the so-called "inspirational" films. Its title could have been "ROCKY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE" or "MY SPEECH IMPEDIMENT".The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-35291607006897631962011-03-01T22:14:40.118-06:002011-03-01T22:14:40.118-06:00Hi Jack, thanks for stopping by and for your comme...Hi Jack, thanks for stopping by and for your comments.<br /><br />re:<br />>>I know there is a benefit to<br />>>social networking (both Egypt<br />>>and Obama's 2008 campaign proved<br />>>what a powerful force it can >>be, <br /><br />Actually, I don't have a problem with "social networking" per se. I just don't want it all dominated by one corporation. And it's clear that this is Facebook's goal. They basically want to replace the Web itself.<br />The people's revolutions around the world are too important to be left in the hands of giant, soul-less coporations. We've already seen the downside to this (such as PayPal freezing the account of a group that has been raising funds for the legal defense of Bradley Manning).Marc McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-30220208692975027252011-03-01T22:03:01.406-06:002011-03-01T22:03:01.406-06:00I'm sorry, I have to disagree that "The S...I'm sorry, I have to disagree that "The Social Network" was more deserving than "The King's Speech."<br /><br />re:<br />>>unoriginal movie with no edge.<br /><br />Yes, but when has the Academy EVER awarded original, edgy films? In any case, I hardly think "The Social Network" was "edgy." Facebook itself might be "edgy" if one is a grandmother. I really would have preferred a film be made about WikiLeaks....now THAT would likely be an edgy film about a worthwhile topic. To me, Facebook is just another bland, money-grubbing, soul-less corporation. It's no different than the likes of Microsoft (or, for that matter, General Motors).<br />In any case, thanks for your comment and for stopping by.Marc McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105754072842852126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-78285199823409024502011-03-01T14:04:30.857-06:002011-03-01T14:04:30.857-06:00I believe that THE SOCIAL NETWORK deserved the Bes...I believe that THE SOCIAL NETWORK deserved the Best Picture Oscar more than THE KING'S SPEECH, which struck me as an entertaining, but unoriginal movie with no edge.<br /><br />But personally, I would not have given either movie the top award.The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-49092971199097232012011-02-28T11:48:09.488-06:002011-02-28T11:48:09.488-06:00King's Speech deserve it.King's Speech deserve it.Ashleyhttp://www.homedesignconsultants.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753985.post-53541270543793873022011-02-28T07:47:48.927-06:002011-02-28T07:47:48.927-06:00While I see the uses of Facebook, I HATE it with a...While I see the uses of Facebook, I HATE it with a passion! I can't stand that every time you log onto it, within a day or so you get "friend" requests from people you don't know and have never met. It is a pain in the ass to navigate around, and the whole way it is used by so many is as childish as a 10 year old girl constantly tweeting and texting gobbledygook. I know there is a benefit to social networking (both Egypt and Obama's 2008 campaign proved what a powerful force it can be), but I still HATE Facebook and very, very, VERY rarely ever use it!Jack Jodellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02165430903903838990noreply@blogger.com