en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/651395 Comments by tomchris http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2012/02/20/the-top-10-best-film-composers-of-all-time/#IDComment297557063 Hard to quibble with the list. You have great taste, Ben Shapiro. If I could argue, I'd try to muscle in a spot for Jerome Moross (who's theme for "The Big Country" still gives me goosebumps), Lalo Schiffrin (who gave such punch to the original action thrillers- "Bullit" and "Dirty Harry") and, of course, John Barry (shaken, not stirred). Still, it boggles my mind on how bland today's movie scores have gotten. They're all so damned unmemorable. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:01:49 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2012/02/20/the-top-10-best-film-composers-of-all-time/#IDComment297557063 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/29/spike-lee-blasts-media-for-glorifying-gangsters-tells-blacks-to-embrace-education/#IDComment279375322 “I am from the pre-crack generation. When I was growing up, we never, ever, never ridiculed someone because they were a good student,” That is, unless the good student began to think for himself and ended up a conservative Republican. Then that "good student" becomes an "Oreo Cookie, Uncle Tom, white wannabe, sellout. Right, Spike? Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:40:35 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/29/spike-lee-blasts-media-for-glorifying-gangsters-tells-blacks-to-embrace-education/#IDComment279375322 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/zleeman/2012/01/28/marvel-studios-now-making-the-lazy-comic-cash-ins-it-was-founded-to-replace/#IDComment277340808 "I mean, they picked the guy who directed “Jumanji” to direct “Captain America!” Have some respect. The "guy" is Joe Johnston who also directed "The Rocketeer." A fact that you either were too lazy to Google or conveniently left out since "Rocketeer" has lots of fans and is very close in spirit to the nostalgic, old-fashioned story-telling of "Captain America." And just how were the early Steve Rogers CGI effects "sad and awkward?' If your writing wasn't sad and awkward you wouldn't have to elaborate. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:31:32 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/zleeman/2012/01/28/marvel-studios-now-making-the-lazy-comic-cash-ins-it-was-founded-to-replace/#IDComment277340808 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/03/mcadams-oblivious-to-occupy-wall-street-violence/#IDComment254288065 "80's porn star appearance?" What are you talking about? The above photo from "Mean Girls" where she played a High School hottie from hell? C'mon! Sure, she's another clueless actress parroting her left wing friends but she's a talented actress with classy good looks. Check her out in "The Wedding Crashers" and her downplayed appearance in the thriller "State Of Play." Wed, 4 Jan 2012 00:10:31 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/03/mcadams-oblivious-to-occupy-wall-street-violence/#IDComment254288065 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/03/mcadams-oblivious-to-occupy-wall-street-violence/#IDComment254276968 In "Sherlock Holmes" she was THE LOVE INTEREST!!! It's not hard, people. Tue, 3 Jan 2012 23:58:35 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2012/01/03/mcadams-oblivious-to-occupy-wall-street-violence/#IDComment254276968 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/10/11/l-a-times-political-films-flop-because-theyre-not-partisan-enough/#IDComment206136092 ...and if "doubling down" these liberal-themed movies don't work, Hollywood will call for a massive re-education program for ignorant Americans languishing in fly over states. Like fat kids gorging on happy meals, people who can't enjoy the goodness of liberal lies rammed down their throats will ultimately be deemed a threat to our nation's security. Is see a joint George Clooney/ Michelle Obama press conference on the horizon. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:17:54 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/10/11/l-a-times-political-films-flop-because-theyre-not-partisan-enough/#IDComment206136092 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/10/04/racial-enforcer-george-lopez-uses-oreo-argument-against-herman-cain/#IDComment203008575 As a black conservative (I hate writing that- I usually consider myself an American), it warms my heart that I still have to endure "Black on the outside/ white on the inside" slurs from hateful cretins like George Lopez. In Lopez's world, if I wore my pants below my butt, spoke barely intelligible English, and was a slave to some Big Government entitlement program then I can keep my "black identity card." Get an education, speak fluently, and put God and Country first, than I'm some laughable buffoon like the "Carlton Banks" character from "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Isn't this Obama "Post Racial" Presidency grand? Tue, 4 Oct 2011 14:54:30 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/10/04/racial-enforcer-george-lopez-uses-oreo-argument-against-herman-cain/#IDComment203008575 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/09/27/when-it-comes-to-screen-immortality-is-black-and-white-film-an-advantage/#IDComment199937889 " In 20 years George Clooney’s career (thus far) will already have bored itself into oblivion. " Because back in the day of the Hollywood Studio System,(when ADULTS ran the entertainment industry) an actor with Clooney's talent would have been put through the production mill. The result: dozens of truly entertaining movies; a half a dozen of which would have been possible classic ( Look at the five year filmography of Errol Flynn, as an example). Today I get the feeling that guy like Clooney only descends from his lofty liberal perch to bang out a couple of arty flicks a year. You may get an occasional crowd-pleaser like "Up In The Air," but most will only give a Chris Matthew- like tingle to someone at the New York Times. Meanwhile, us "Great Unwashed" would rather eat up "The Blind Side." Politics aside (if possible) despite their celebrity, I always feel a disconnect with guys like Clooney or Brad Pitt and I think their constant pursuit of "“edginess” and "nihilism" is the problem. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:05:45 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/09/27/when-it-comes-to-screen-immortality-is-black-and-white-film-an-advantage/#IDComment199937889 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/09/25/the-james-bond-chronicles-for-your-eyes-only/#IDComment199551487 Glad we're on the same page on two of Roger's most maligned Bonds, but, wow, so hard on Pierce and Timothy. In regards to Brosnan's lack of manliness for the part, my favorite scene in "Tomorrow Never Dies" is when Bond gets the upper hand on the creepy torturer Dr. Kaufman and points a gun to his head. Kaufman: "I'm just a professional doing my job!" Bond: (Calmly) Me too." Bang! Cold blooded murder and Brosnan plays it perfectly. As for Dalton, I agree he never fully closed the deal as James Bond (listen to the sounds of Bond elitist screaming). The man always struck me as a good British theater actor slumming through movies for an extra pay check. But "The Living Daylights" is a solid entry in the series and Dalton looked good. "License to Kill?" I guess I'll wait for Mr. Meyer's take on that one. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 02:47:15 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/09/25/the-james-bond-chronicles-for-your-eyes-only/#IDComment199551487 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/09/25/the-james-bond-chronicles-for-your-eyes-only/#IDComment198847715 I don't agree that FYEO is Roger's best-"Octopussy" is a personal fave (and to further make Bond elitists skin crawl I'd take a "Moonraker" or "A View To A Kill" over "License to Kill" any day). Nonetheless a great review of James Bond entering the 80's. FYEO was a game changer. The films recipe of grittier action sequences and complex characterizations (for a Bond movie) is still the template for today's Bonds. Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan could easily step into this movie with little or no changes. It also the first movie where Roger Moore became- for me, at least, completely appealing as Bond. Oh, he still acts with one eyebrow but this time out he seems more down to earth and less the leering playboy. I love the scene where he is heard audibly huffing and puffing as he chases after Logue's getaway car on foot. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:42:25 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/09/25/the-james-bond-chronicles-for-your-eyes-only/#IDComment198847715 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/09/12/morning-call-sheet-all-the-kings-oscar-winners-cant-make-contagion-a-hit/#IDComment192756091 In regards to that Albert Shanker wannabe, Damon, I remember a moment in the documentary "This Is Elvis" that perfectly illuminated a bygone era of celebrity and politics. During the Vietnam era, a reporter asked Elvis Presley, a former vet, of course, his take on war. Elvis shook off the question and simply answered "I'm just an entertainer." Say what you will about "The King" but at least he broke down the cold reality about shaking his ass in front of millions- it's a job, it's a business. And whatever Presley's personal politics (he admired Richard Nixon) he knew in the scheme of things he was just a court jester, and a highly paid one at that. It boggles the mind of how we got to today when someone like Cher who says "Tea Party is f@cking nuts!" WHILE promoting a movie (which tanked, of course). Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:33:56 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2011/09/12/morning-call-sheet-all-the-kings-oscar-winners-cant-make-contagion-a-hit/#IDComment192756091 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2011/07/09/report-oprah-winfrey-a-top-choice-to-host-oscars/#IDComment171637750 Johnny Carson also had "absolutely NOTHING to do with film industry" and many (including myself) consider him one of the Oscar's best hosts. Just sayin' Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:29:27 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/hollywoodland/2011/07/09/report-oprah-winfrey-a-top-choice-to-host-oscars/#IDComment171637750 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/06/19/the-james-bond-chronicles-the-man-with-the-golden-gun/#IDComment164669169 I was pleasantly surprised by this review. Not because I love "Man With The Golden Gun," I don't, but because it shows a finely-tuned mind really giving a fair and balanced analysis of the Roger Moore years. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:04:11 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lmeyers/2011/06/19/the-james-bond-chronicles-the-man-with-the-golden-gun/#IDComment164669169 http://biggovernment.com/jjmnolte/2011/06/13/why-john-ziegler-is-wrong-about-sarah-palins-electability/#IDComment162472600 What's getting me angrier by the day is not so much Palin's attacks by the msm and the crazy left but the stabs in the backs by other conservatives. The woman has been at the forefront criticizing every effort to grow an already out of control government-a certified tea party activist- a fabulous patriot- a superstar! Her thanks? John Zeigler telling her you can't win, you're damaged goods, now step aside for (wait for it) Tim Pawlenty. Hey John, didn't you get the memo? Ann Coulter says conservatives ONLY best hope is Chris Christie. No wait, the Views token "conservative Elizabeth Hasselbeck says Romney's the guy (that is, again, if Sarah gets lost)....and so on and so on. The point being, of course, is that all these obviously jealous and petty pundits have their horses in the race but are frustrated by a beguiling Thoroughbred- Sarah Palin! Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:23:32 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/jjmnolte/2011/06/13/why-john-ziegler-is-wrong-about-sarah-palins-electability/#IDComment162472600 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lgrin/2010/05/29/for-conservative-movie-lovers-john-woo-chow-yun-fat-and-hard-boiled-part-1/#IDComment77829138 Ahh, those long gone days of a well choreographed and edited action scene. You know, the ones that you can watch over and over and over. Today, the same sequence would be "Shaky-Camed" and quick cutted, beyond human comprehension by some baseball capped hack. Sun, 30 May 2010 20:06:50 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lgrin/2010/05/29/for-conservative-movie-lovers-john-woo-chow-yun-fat-and-hard-boiled-part-1/#IDComment77829138 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sbunch/2010/01/19/hitchcock-is-overrated-dear-ben-shapiro/#IDComment53042878 Now THIS is movie criticism, not silly snark. I was primed to have a good time when I began Ben's post since I am game to consider Ridley Scott a bit overrated (Him and brother Tom at times strike me as more cinematographers than storytellers. And yes, Hollywood, ENOUGH WITH THE DAMNED SHAKEY CAM ALREADY!). But taking shots at sacred cows like Scorsesse and Hitchcock with all the insight of an immature crackhead during a drive-by shooting sent Shapiro's list down a crap hole. Yes, perhaps Hitchcock is not for everybody (although I shutter to think about a movie world that Ben lives where "Rear Window" gets as much respect as "Scary Movie 2."). But the big elephant in the room is Hitchcock's or Woody Allen's legendary reach in bringing millions to love the cinema. Whether you like this movie or that, you can't ignore the respect developed developed between artist and audience. Ben did. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:01:21 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sbunch/2010/01/19/hitchcock-is-overrated-dear-ben-shapiro/#IDComment53042878 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2010/01/17/top-10-most-overrated-directors-of-all-time/#IDComment52491465 "Rear Window makes one reach for the fast-forward button." And your post makes one wonder if you are Attention Deficit. Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:29:22 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2010/01/17/top-10-most-overrated-directors-of-all-time/#IDComment52491465 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/09/05/%e2%80%98gamer%e2%80%99-review-hollywood-step-away-from-the-shaky-cam/#IDComment33499328 Here! Here! Enough with the damned SHAKEY CAM already. It's getting old. Throwing together a mass of quick cuts and close-ups will never out do an old-fashioned, well choreographed action sequence. I was struck by this recently when watching an 80's James Bond movie and was nostalgic for a time when you can actually follow a kick, a punch, and a car crash with precision and logic. No longer. But, as always, glorified music video directors won't change their techniques until some young turk from Hong Kong or Europe makes a mint with a different type of action aesthetic. Mon, 7 Sep 2009 01:21:11 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/09/05/%e2%80%98gamer%e2%80%99-review-hollywood-step-away-from-the-shaky-cam/#IDComment33499328