gdp's Comments

Big Hollywood : Film Review: Everything Wrong with Hollywood Can Be Summed Up with the Word 'Predators'

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:12:45 +0000

Interesting post JN and interesting comments. Honestly, so far count me as definitely not a fan of 2010 films. And I very much agree that Brody was miscast for Predators. I went to see Predators because this is such a wonderful franchise and the original Arnold vs Predator absolutely rocked. But there was so much counter to the basic Predator myth in this movie that goes way beyond lousy casting. The script frankly sucks; the storyline is basically not-Predator; except for some cool jungle panoramas there's just not much to be said for this movie IMHO.

Big Hollywood : Breaking: Roman Polanski Faces Another Rape Allegation

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:10:18 +0000

Right on, John Nolte! Honestly this is one of the most disgusting stories of elitist protection of the powerful since I don't know when. Maybe the middle ages when the "droit du seigneur" was common practice among kings and princes. But that's an insult to the middle ages ... "droit du seigneur" wasn't usually extended to rape and sodomy of children. Bottom line though (no pun intended) the overall story that comes out to us mortals in America and the rest of the world - check the polls in France & Poland - is that this is a horrible case of ass-licking support for the wealthy and powerful at the expense of basic justice. Oh and as for "how many" ... if the public count is 3 now, chances are that the actual count is far higher. Everyone who works in forensics or treatment for child abuse survivors knows that it's extremely rare for someone who crosses the line into sexual abuse to stop with just one or a few victims. Especially when power and opportunity invite more extensive horrors.

Big Journalism : Journalist At Work: Megyn Kelly Interviews Karl Rove About the New Black Panther Case

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:59:21 +0000

Point well taken about Megyn Kelly. She's great, she really knows her stuff, and is one sharp attorney. I almost always get so much from her interviews. However, speaking as a male, I want to dissent from the implied "diss" of "Fox blondes." What's wrong with being blonde and hot and on Fox? No problem from my viewpoint folks. And I totally agree with Kristine from New York: Rock on Megyn!

Big Hollywood : Today's Open Thread

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:45:21 +0000

Gotta say I'm just disgusted by the Swiss decision not to extradite Roman Polanski. I have to wonder how much and how the Swiss got paid off. I'm almost as disgusted by the brief description that keeps showing up "Roman Polanski, wanted in LA for having sex with a 13 year old girl in 1977" or whenver it was. Yep that's bad enough; but actually he didn't just "have sex", he doped and raped her. And about In Bruges ... it's a fantastically good, dark comedy. Juxtaposing it with the Polanski whitewash makes me think that the Colin Ferrell character wouldn't be surprised at all. "Fookin Polanski whut you expect ..."

Big Hollywood : Greg Gutfeld Responds to Cowardly Liberal Cartoonist Who Threatened To Kick His...

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:40:46 +0000

Way to go Greg. RedEye rocks. But ... dare I admit it? Well, me, I do like Two and a Half Men. No apologies though. I'll take good ol' fashioned lo-brow / middle-brow sitcom any day of the week over elitist posturings by someone like Marcus.

Big Hollywood : Sting and Soros Hook Up For A Duet Of Pro-Drug Stupidity

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:15:37 +0000

I think you have a pretty good take on George Soros, the Drug Policy Alliance, and their Hollywood supporters. I'm more or less with Charles Krauthammer, and many others to be sure, on this one. The drug war definitely has costs; but then so would wholesale drug legalization along DPA lines. The cultural impact of massive legalization would be enormous. Comparisons with alcohol seem to me to be less cogent than comparisons with other big societal law challenges, like (for example) Murder. There are some pretty chilling movies about what society would be like with murder legalized. Law enforcement costs of anit-murder policing are definitely no small bucks, but the economic, cultural, and social costs of abandoning manslaughter laws would be devastating. All in all, drug law enforcement is tough, but not as tough as things would be without drug law enforcement.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 03:45:03 +0000

I think it's outrageous to defend an apathetic response to a prominent columnist's overt antisemitism on the grounds of (in effect) what's the big deal, lots of people do it. The support for minimization and passivity in the face of such blantant bigotry is part of the problem of our culture's ennui in the face of the horrible. I agree that there's so much that it's easy to get jaded. But for most of us mortals, something this nasty is above and beyond; and clearly so striking that it's helped to reach beyond our natural fatalism. I'm frankly heartened that there's been such a strong and appropriately outraged response to Helen Thomas' bigotry.

Big Government : Helen Needs To Go!

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 01:20:29 +0000

Thanks for saying it. I'm just amazed .... tho I shouldn't be I know ... at how easy it is to get away with blatantly anti-semitic remarkes these days as long, it seems, as you're some kind of liberal left icon. Shouldn't be that way. Bigotry like this is way, way over the line of simple common decency. Fire Helen Thomas.

Big Journalism : 'Journalist' Helen Thomas: Jew-hater, Democrat fundraiser

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 01:06:38 +0000

It's all pretty disgusting. Also says just how fragile civilizational norms are that an anti-semitic comments by a left-wing journalist can simply be ignored by Democratic politicians out for a vote no matter what. The Holocaust was what, 70-80 yrs ago? And this soon afterward we get stuff like this. I'll never forget as a teenager touring Dachau on a hi school field trip. I was chilled then and still feel the chill now walking under that horribile "Arbeit macht frei" over the gate. Some of the images of the exhibit still burn after all these years. And the conclusion in so many languages - "Never again", "Ne plus jamais," etc. - was heart wrenching. I remember thinking "Never?" Now I'm thinking it again. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

Big Journalism : Sunday Morning Thread: Should Hearst Fire Helen Thomas?

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 00:52:33 +0000

I vote Yes. One of the nastier things about our times is the ongoing dismantling of basic boundaries of decency. Blatant anti-semtism in a reporter shouldn't be excused anymore than blatant racism. "Send the Jews back to Germany and Poland" is pretty equivalent to "Send [African-Americans] back to Africa." Way over the line. Fire her.

Big Hollywood : Meeting a Horror Legend: The Mighty George A. Romero

Sat, 29 May 2010 23:31:46 +0000

Hey don't forget the awesomely sick and delightful zombie spin offs ... check out YouTube for some wonderful footage on how to avoid, kill, & survive the next time zombies turn up in your neighborhood. George Romero is father not only of a classic horror tradition in movies, but a classic horror tradition in pop culture. The 1968 flick is still my very favorite, but anytime a zombie movie turns up, I'll be there; and anytime a pop culture homage to zombies turn up, hey, I'm there. :)

Big Hollywood : 'MacGruber': SNL's Latest Makes Light of Abortion

Tue, 25 May 2010 02:30:47 +0000

I haven't seen the SNL skits, but thought I'd take in the flick today. There were some funny moments but on the whole everything you say was right on. This movie belongs to a whole comedy genre that seems to be mostly distinguished by seeing how disgusting you can be. Just not up my alley. I think I'll get out my Blues Brothers DVD just to get my brain back into something really imaginative and funny.

Big Journalism : Overnight Thread: Arizona

Tue, 25 May 2010 02:18:27 +0000

Let Governor Brewer know she has your support by contacting her with an encouraging email or phone call: http://www.janbrewer.com/contact/ And don't forget to sign her petition of support: http://new.petitiononline.com/karen162/petition.h...

Big Journalism : Overnight Thread: Arizona

Tue, 25 May 2010 02:14:43 +0000

Great idea. She can also be contacted at: http://www.janbrewer.com/contact/ Oh and don't forget to sign the petition she supports, Secure Our Borders Now!http://new.petitiononline.com/karen162/petition.h...

Big Hollywood : Censorship Must Die: My Draw Mohammed Day Entry

Fri, 21 May 2010 05:06:58 +0000

Very funny, very cool ... congratulations and keep up the great work!

Big Hollywood : 'Fair Game': L.A. Times Ignores Facts to Pimp Film, Trash Bush

Fri, 21 May 2010 05:04:38 +0000

Well I'd heard that this was going to be a lousy, boring, partisan flick and sure enough, it appears that this is a lousy, boring, partisan flick. Hard for me to steer clear of anything with the delightful Naomi Watts in it, but alas, even that lovely lady's charms can't make up for sheer leftist drudgery. Now if Naomi Watts were to play ... oh I don't know ... Dana Perino or Gov Brewer or Sarah Palin or Dana Loesch ... nothing would keep me away. Hey I can dream can't I?

Big Journalism : 'Conservative Like Me': Challenging Patrick Goldstein's Willful Ignorance

Fri, 21 May 2010 04:51:48 +0000

This is hilarious and at the same time ... so very very on target. One thought about the sneer that Jonathan Kahn and others aren't subject to discrimination, in fact they somehow lack marketable talent: isn't this a great (as in slimy great) way to set up blacklisting? "Everyone knows those conservatives are so lacking in talent that they're not going to get hired" .... therefore if X is "conservative", that's just a coincidence, we'll just "happen" to make sure he/she gets no work ... because s/he's so untalented. It's a nasty game but that's how Blacklisting works, right? And all the more reason for me to admire deeply those who, like Kahn and Voigt and Nolte and others, have spoken out so boldly, courageously. Keep up the great work ... you are definitely in my prayers and those of many, many folks.

Big Hollywood : BREAKING: Latest Polanski Accuser Speaks Out In Extensive Interview

Mon, 17 May 2010 04:02:45 +0000

I just want to add a big, big, big *thanks* to Charlotte Lewis for having the courage to come forward and speak the truth. I'm as disgusted I think as just about anyone by Polanski's excuses and excuse makers. But when a powerful, wealthy figure who can command so much sycophancy among so many in Hollywood is faced with yet more truth from his victims, it means that truly Might does NOT make Right. Rape is rape even when the perp is a powerful Hollywood exploiter.

Big Hollywood : REVIEW: Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood' Is Plain Ole' Boring

Mon, 17 May 2010 03:53:48 +0000

Honestly boring is just the right word for this movie. I went hoping for the best ... I love Gladiator ... but after Ridley Scott gets done deconstructing the traditional Robin Hood story and building a new "alternate" Robin Hood story, the whole thing just plain becomes boring. I stayed for over half the movie and then finally walked out. Think I'll see if I can get out my Errol Flynn or Kevin Costner versions as antidotes.

Big Hollywood : REVIEW: Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood' Is Plain Ole' Boring

Mon, 17 May 2010 03:50:16 +0000

I could not agree more. The wonderful Robin Hood story is what makes all the good Robin Hood movies. Ridley Scott's version messes all around with the story to give us an "alternate history" that is just plain boring, as Nolte says. Gimme those old Robin Hoods, rich in the Robin Hood story, any day of the week instead.